U.S. patent application number 11/893926 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-13 for sample analyzer.
Invention is credited to Hiroyuki Fujino, Kyozo Fujita, Mitsuyo Ito.
Application Number | 20080063570 11/893926 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39169924 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080063570 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fujino; Hiroyuki ; et
al. |
March 13, 2008 |
Sample analyzer
Abstract
The sample analyzer includes: a reagent arranging section for
arranging a plurality of reagents; an analyzing section for
analyzing a measurement sample prepared by mixing a sample and the
reagent arranged on the reagent arranging section; a display
device; an input device; and a display control section for
displaying a reagent arrangement displaying region for displaying a
plurality of reagent marks inscribed with a reagent name
respectively on the display device, wherein the each reagent mark
is displayed in a manner selectable by the input device, wherein
arrangement of the each reagent mark on the reagent arrangement
displaying region corresponds to arrangement of the each reagent on
the reagent arranging section, wherein the display control section
displays detailed information related to the reagent corresponding
to the reagent mark selected by the input device on the display
device.
Inventors: |
Fujino; Hiroyuki;
(Kakogawa-shi, JP) ; Fujita; Kyozo; (Hamburg,
DE) ; Ito; Mitsuyo; (Kobe-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BRINKS HOFER GILSON & LIONE
P.O. BOX 10395
CHICAGO
IL
60610
US
|
Family ID: |
39169924 |
Appl. No.: |
11/893926 |
Filed: |
August 17, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
422/400 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01N 2035/00673
20130101; G01N 35/025 20130101; G01N 35/00663 20130101; G01N
2035/00891 20130101; G01N 35/00732 20130101; B01L 9/06
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
422/099 |
International
Class: |
B01J 19/00 20060101
B01J019/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 18, 2006 |
JP |
2006-222850 |
Aug 29, 2006 |
JP |
2006-231591 |
Claims
1. A sample analyzer comprising: a reagent arranging section for
arranging a plurality of reagents; an analyzing section for
analyzing a measurement sample prepared by mixing a sample and the
reagent arranged on the reagent arranging section; a display
device; an input device; and a display control section for
displaying a reagent arrangement displaying region for displaying a
plurality of reagent marks inscribed with a reagent name
respectively on the display device, wherein the each reagent mark
is displayed in a manner selectable by the input device, wherein
arrangement of the each reagent mark on the reagent arrangement
displaying region corresponds to arrangement of the each reagent on
the reagent arranging section, wherein the display control section
displays detailed information related to the reagent corresponding
to the reagent mark selected by the input device on the display
device.
2. The sample analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the display
control section displays a reagent managing screen including the
reagent arrangement displaying region and a reagent detailed
information displaying region for displaying the detailed
information.
3. The sample analyzer according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of
reagent racks accommodating a plurality of reagents are arranged on
the reagent arranging section, and the display control section
controls the display device to display each reagent mark in
correspondence to the arrangement of each reagent accommodated in
the plurality of reagent racks.
4. The sample analyzer according to claim 2, wherein the display
control section controls the display device to display the selected
reagent mark in a manner distinguishable from reagent marks other
than the selected reagent mark on the reagent arrangement
displaying region.
5. The sample analyzer according to claim 2, wherein the display
control section controls the display device to display the reagent
mark in a manner that remaining amount of the reagent is
identifiable.
6. The sample analyzer according to claim 5, wherein the display
control section controls the display device to display the reagent
mark in different colors according to the remaining amount of the
reagent.
7. The sample analyzer according to claim 3, wherein the display
control section controls the display device to display the reagent
mark including reagent rack information specifying the reagent rack
and positional information indicating an accommodating position of
the reagent on the reagent rack.
8. The sample analyzer according to claim 2, wherein the display
control section controls the display device to display reagent lot
information indicating lot number of the reagent corresponding to
the selected reagent mark and reagent expiration date information
indicating expiration date of the reagent corresponding to the
selected reagent mark on the reagent detailed information
displaying region.
9. The sample analyzer according to claim 2, wherein the display
control section controls the display device to display at least one
of reagent remaining test information indicating remaining number
of tests of the reagent corresponding to the selected reagent mark
and reagent set information indicating set date of the reagent
corresponding to the selected reagent mark on the reagent detailed
information displaying region.
10. The sample analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the each
reagent is arranged on the reagent arranging section arranges in
annular form and rotatably; and the reagent mark is displayed in
annular form on the reagent arrangement displaying region in
correspondence to the arrangement of the reagent on the reagent
arranging section.
11. A sample analyzer comprising: a reagent arranging section for
arranging a plurality of reagents; an analyzing section for
analyzing a measurement sample prepared by mixing a sample and the
reagent arranged on the reagent arranging section; a display
device; an input device; and a display control section for
displaying reagent managing screen including a first region for
displaying a plurality of reagent marks inscribed with reagent
names respectively and a second region for displaying a replacement
mark for replacing the reagent arranged on the reagent arranging
section, wherein the each reagent mark and the replacement mark are
displayed in a manner selectable by the input device, wherein
arrangement of the each reagent mark on the first region
corresponds to arrangement of the each reagent on the reagent
arranging section, wherein when one of the reagent marks is
selected by the input device and the replacement mark is selected
by the input device, the reagent arranging section performs a
reagent replacement operation for replace the reagent corresponding
to the selected regent mark.
12. The sample analyzer according to claim 11, wherein the reagent
managing screen further includes a third region for displaying
detailed information of the reagent corresponding to the selected
reagent mark.
13. The sample analyzer according to claim 12, wherein an edit mark
for editing the detailed information of the reagent corresponding
to the selected reagent mark is displayed in a manner selectable by
the input device on the second region.
14. The sample analyzer according to claim 13, wherein when the
reagent marks is selected by the input device and the edit mark is
selected by the input device, the display control section controls
the display device to display an editing screen for editing the
detailed information of the reagent corresponding to the selected
reagent mark.
15. The sample analyzer according to claim 11, wherein the display
control section controls the display device to display the selected
reagent mark in a manner distinguishable from reagent marks other
than the selected reagent mark.
16. The sample analyzer according to claim 11, wherein the display
control section controls the display device to display the each
reagent mark in a manner distinguishable between a retrievable
state allowing a user to retrieve the reagent arranged on the
reagent arranging section and a waiting state until the retrievable
state after the replacement mark is selected in different
colors.
17. The sample analyzer according to claim 11, wherein the display
control section controls the display device to display a reagent
non-arranged mark in a manner distinguishable from the reagent mark
on the first region, the non-arranged mark corresponds to a portion
not arranged with the reagent of the reagent arranging section; and
wherein when the non-arranged marks is selected by the input device
and the replacement mark is selected by the input device, the
reagent arranging section performs a reagent adding operation for
adding a reagent to the portion of the reagent arranging section
corresponding to the selected non-arranged mark.
18. A sample analyzer comprising: a reagent arranging section in
which a plurality of reagents are capable of being arranged in a
movable manner; an analyzing section for analyzing a measurement
sample prepared by mixing a sample and the reagent arranged on the
reagent arranging section; a display device; an input device; and a
display control section for displaying reagent managing screen
including a reagent arrangement displaying region for displaying a
plurality of reagent marks inscribed with reagent names
respectively, wherein the each reagent mark and the replacement
mark are displayed in a manner selectable by the input device,
wherein arrangement of the each reagent mark on the reagent
arrangement displaying region corresponds to arrangement of the
each reagent on the reagent arranging section, wherein the display
control section controls the display device to display the reagent
mark corresponding to the reagent which has a problem to be used
for analysis in a manner distinguishable from the reagent mark
corresponding to the reagent which does not have a problem to be
used for analysis.
19. The sample analyzer according to claim 18, wherein the display
control section controls the display device to display a reagent
managing screen including the reagent arrangement displaying region
and a reagent detailed information displaying region for displaying
detailed information related to the reagent corresponding to the
selected reagent mark.
20. The sample analyzer according to claim 18, wherein the each
reagent is arranged on the reagent arranging section arranges in
annular form and rotatably; and the reagent mark is displayed in
annular form on the reagent arrangement displaying region in
correspondence to the arrangement of the reagent on the reagent
arranging section.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119
to Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-222850 filed Aug. 18, 2006
and Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-231591 filed Aug. 29,
2006, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a sample analyzer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A sample analyzer equipped with a display screen for
displaying detailed information of the arranged reagent is
conventionally known (see e.g., Japanese Laid-Open Patent
Publication No. 2001-133462). In such sample analyzer disclosed in
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-133462, when the
reagent is specified on the display screen, the state of the
specified reagent is confirmed, and the confirmation result
(detailed information) is displayed on the display screen.
Furthermore, in the sample analyzer disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open
Patent Publication No. 2001-133462, a reagent stocker is displayed
on the display screen on a frame format view, and the detailed
information of each reagent bottle installed in the reagent stocker
such as item name, remaining amount (number of times), lot number
or serial number, and the like can be confirmed on the display
screen.
[0004] Recently, the number of reagents to be arranged in the
sample analyzer is increasing to a few dozens to about a hundred
due to increase in the number of measurement items and improvement
on the processing speed of the sample analyzer described above. It
is thus desired to be able to easily confirm the detailed
information such as arrangement, item name, lot number, or the like
of the reagent on the display screen.
[0005] Although the sample analyzer disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open
Patent Publication No. 2001-133462 is configured to display the
detailed information of all the arranged reagents, the detailed
information of all the arranged reagents are difficult to display
when a great number of reagents are arranged since the space of the
displaying region of the display screen is limited.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The scope of the present invention is defined solely by the
appended claims, and is not affected to any degree by the
statements within this summary.
[0007] The first aspect of the present invention relates to a
sample analyzer comprising: a reagent arranging section for
arranging a plurality of reagents; an analyzing section for
analyzing a measurement sample prepared by mixing a sample and the
reagent arranged on the reagent arranging section; a display
device; an input device; and a display control section for
displaying a reagent arrangement displaying region for displaying a
plurality of reagent marks inscribed with a reagent name
respectively on the display device, wherein the each reagent mark
is displayed in a manner selectable by the input device, wherein
arrangement of the each reagent mark on the reagent arrangement
displaying region corresponds to arrangement of the each reagent on
the reagent arranging section, wherein the display control section
displays detailed information related to the reagent corresponding
to the reagent mark selected by the input device on the display
device.
[0008] The second aspect of the present invention relates to a
sample analyzer comprising: a reagent arranging section for
arranging a plurality of reagents; an analyzing section for
analyzing a measurement sample prepared by mixing a sample and the
reagent arranged on the reagent arranging section; a display
device; an input device; and a display control section for
displaying reagent managing screen including a first region for
displaying a plurality of reagent marks inscribed with reagent
names respectively and a second region for displaying a replacement
mark for replacing the reagent arranged on the reagent arranging
section, wherein the each reagent mark and the replacement mark are
displayed in a manner selectable by the input device, wherein
arrangement of the each reagent mark on the first region
corresponds to arrangement of the each reagent on the reagent
arranging section, wherein when one of the reagent marks is
selected by the input device and the replacement mark is selected
by the input device, the reagent arranging section performs a
reagent replacement operation for replace the reagent corresponding
to the selected regent mark.
[0009] The third aspect of the present invention relates to a
sample analyzer comprising: a reagent arranging section in which a
plurality of reagents are capable of being arranged in a movable
manner; an analyzing section for analyzing a measurement sample
prepared by mixing a sample and the reagent arranged on the reagent
arranging section; a display device; an input device; and a display
control section for displaying reagent managing screen including a
reagent arrangement displaying region for displaying a plurality of
reagent marks inscribed with reagent names respectively, wherein
the each reagent mark and the replacement mark are displayed in a
manner selectable by the input device, wherein arrangement of the
each reagent mark on the reagent arrangement displaying region
corresponds to arrangement of the each reagent on the reagent
arranging section, wherein the display control section controls the
display device to display the reagent mark corresponding to the
reagent which has a problem to be used for analysis in a manner
distinguishable from the reagent mark corresponding to the reagent
which does not have a problem to be used for analysis.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall
configuration of a sample analyzer according to one embodiment of
the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the sample analyzer shown in FIG.
1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a measurement mechanism unit
of the sample analyzer according to one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the interior of the
measurement mechanism unit and a reagent storing section of the
sample analyzer according to one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the interior of the
measurement mechanism unit and the reagent storing section shown in
FIG. 4;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control device of the
sample analyzer according to one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a view showing a reagent managing screen displayed
on a display device of a control device according to one embodiment
of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 8 is a view showing a reagent managing screen displayed
on a display device of a control device according to one embodiment
of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 9 is a view showing a reagent managing screen displayed
on a display device of a control device according to one embodiment
of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 10 is a view showing a reagent managing screen
displayed on a display device of a control device according to one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 11 is a view showing a reagent information edit
dialogue displayed on the display device of the control device
according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 12 is a view showing a reagent lot usage setting
dialogue displayed on the display device of the control device
according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a first reagent
container rack according to one embodiment;
[0023] FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a second reagent
container rack according to one embodiment;
[0024] FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a state in which a
reagent container is held in the first reagent container rack shown
in FIG. 13;
[0025] FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a state in which the
reagent container is held in the second reagent container rack
shown in FIG. 14;
[0026] FIG. 17 is a block diagram of the sample analyzer according
to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 18 is a block diagram of a control section of the
measurement mechanism unit of the sample analyzer according to the
one embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 19 is a flowchart for explaining a reagent replacing
process by the control section of the control device of the sample
analyzer according to the one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0029] FIG. 20 is a flowchart for explaining a reagent replacing
process by the control section of the measurement mechanism unit of
the sample analyzer according to the one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0030] FIG. 21 is a flowchart for describing the dispensing process
by the control section of the measurement mechanism unit of the
sample analyzer according to the one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0031] FIG. 22 is a flowchart for describing the process of
displaying the remaining amount of the reagent in the reagent
managing screen of the sample analyzer according to the one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 23 is a conceptual view for describing a method of
calculating the remaining amount of the reagent;
[0033] FIG. 24 is a conceptual view for describing the
correspondence relationship between the remaining amount of the
reagent and the color of the remaining amount indicator;
[0034] FIG. 25 is a flowchart for describing the process of
displaying the detailed information of the reagent on the reagent
detailed information displaying region;
[0035] FIG. 26 is a flowchart for describing the process of editing
the detailed information of the reagent displayed on the reagent
detailed information displaying region; and
[0036] FIG. 27 is a flowchart describing the measurement process by
the control section of the control device and the control section
of the measurement mechanism unit of the sample analyzer according
to one embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0037] Embodiments embodying the present invention will now be
described based on the drawings.
[0038] FIGS. 1 to 5 are views showing an overall configuration of a
sample analyzer according to one embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 6 is a view describing a control device of a sample
analyzer according to the one embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 7 to 12 are views describing a screen displayed on a display
device of the sample analyzer according to the one embodiment of
the present invention. FIGS. 13 to 16 are perspective views showing
a reagent container rack and a reagent container of the sample
analyzer according to the one embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 17 and 18 are block diagrams describing the details of the
sample analyzer according to the one embodiment of the present
invention. First, the structure of the sample analyzer 1 according
to the one embodiment of the present invention will be described
with reference to FIGS. 1 to 18.
[0039] The sample analyzer 1 according to the one embodiment of the
present invention is a device for analyzing the amount or degree of
activity of a specific substance related to coagulation and
fibrolytic function of the blood by optically measuring the same,
and uses blood plasma for the specimen. The optical measurement
(main measurement) of the specimen is performed in the sample
analyzer 1 according to the one embodiment using coagulation time
method, synthetic substrate method, and immunoturbidimetric method.
The coagulation time method used in the present embodiment is a
measuring method of detecting the coagulating process of the
specimen as change in transmitted light. The measurement items
include PT (prothrombin time), APTT (activated partial
thromboplastin time), Fbg (Fibrinogen content) or the like. The
measurement item of the synthetic substrate method includes ATIII,
and the measurement item of the immunoturbidimetric method includes
D dimer, FDP or the like.
[0040] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sample analyzer 1 is
configured by a measurement mechanism unit 2, a specimen conveyance
mechanism unit 3 arranged on the front face side of the measurement
mechanism unit 2, and a control device 4 electrically connected to
the measurement mechanism unit 2. A cuvette placing section 5 for
placing the cuvette 200 (see FIG. 4), which is the container of the
specimen when performing the measurement, is arranged in the
measurement mechanism unit 2. An openable/closable lid 5a and a
window 5b through which the interior of the cuvette placing section
5 can be seen are formed in the cuvette placing section 5. An
urgent stop button 1a and a measurement start button 1b are
arranged on the front face side of the cuvette placing section 5.
The lid 5a (see FIG. 1) is provided to place the cuvette 200 into a
first hopper 161a (see FIG. 4) of a cuvette supply mechanism
section 160, to be hereinafter described. The user is able to see
the remaining amount of the cuvette 200 stored in the first hopper
161a (see FIG. 4) through the window 5b. The urgent stop button 1a
(see FIG. 1) has a function of stopping the measurement in time of
urgency. The measurement start button 1b (see FIG. 1b) has a
function of starting the measurement when pushed. The user thus can
immediately start the measurement after placing the cuvette 200.
The measurement can also be started or stopped through operation of
the control device 4.
[0041] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the control device 4 consists of
a personal computer 401 (PC), and includes a control section 4a, a
display device 4b and a keyboard 4c. The control section 4a is
adapted to transmit an operation start signal of the measurement
mechanism unit 2 to a control section 501 of the measurement
mechanism unit 2, to be hereinafter described, and analyze optical
information of the specimen obtained by the measurement mechanism
unit 2. The control section 4a is made up of CPU, ROM, RAM, or the
like. The display device 4b is provided to display information
associated with interference substance (hemoglobin, milky fluid
(fat), and bilirubin) present in the specimen, as well as the
result of analysis obtained by the control section 4a.
[0042] The configuration of the control device 4 will now be
described in detail. As shown in FIG. 6, the control section 4a is
mainly configured by a CPU 401a, a ROM 401b, a RAM 401c, a hard
disc 401d, a read-out device 401e, an input/output interface 401f,
a communication interface 401g, and an image output interface 401h.
The CPU 401a, the ROM 401b, the RAM 401c, the hard disc 401d, the
read-out device 401e, the input/output interface 401f, the
communication interface 401g, and the image output interface 401h
are connected by a bus 401i.
[0043] The CPU 401a executes computer programs stored in the ROM
401b and the computer programs loaded in the RAM 401c. The computer
401 serves as the control device 4 when the CPU 401a executes the
application program 404a, as hereinafter described.
[0044] The ROM 401b is configured by mask ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM,
and the like, and is recorded with computer programs to be executed
by the CPU 401a, data used for the same, and the like.
[0045] The RAM 401c is configured by SRAM, DRAM, and the like. The
RAM 401c is used to read out the computer programs recorded on the
ROM 401b and the hard disc 401d. The RAM 401c is used as a work
region of the CPU 401a when executing the computer programs.
[0046] The hard disc 401d is installed with various computer
programs to be executed by the CPU 401a such as operating system
and application program, as well as data used in executing the
computer program. The application program 404a for calculating the
presence and concentration of the interference substance according
to the present invention is also installed in the hard disc 401d.
In the present embodiment, a table of a reagent master, a reagent
lot master, and a container master to be hereinafter described is
stored in the hard disc 401d.
[0047] The read-out device 401e is configured by flexible disc
drive, CD-ROM drive, DVD-ROM drive, and the like, and is able to
read out computer programs and data recorded on a portable
recording medium 404. The application program 404a according to the
present embodiment is stored in the portable recording medium 404,
where the computer 401 reads out the application program 404a from
the portable recording medium 404, and installs the application
program 404a to the hard disc 401d.
[0048] The application program 404a is not only provided by the
portable recording medium 404, but also provided through
communication line (wired or wireless) from external devices
communicatably connected with the computer 401 through the
communication line. For instance, the application program 404a may
be stored in the hard disc of the server computer on the internet,
so that the computer 401 can access the server computer to download
the application program 404a and install the application program
404a to the hard disc 401d.
[0049] Operating system providing graphical user interface
environment such as Windows (registered trademark) manufactured and
sold by U.S. Microsoft Corporation is installed in the hard disc
401d. In the following description, the application program 404a
according to the present embodiment is assumed to be operating on
the operating system.
[0050] The input/output interface 401f is configured by serial
interface such as USB, IEEE1394, RS-232C; parallel interface such
as SCSI, IDE, IEEE1284; analog interface such as D/A converter, A/D
converter, and the like. The keyboard 4c is connected to the
input/output interface 401f, so that the user can input data to the
computer 401 using the keyboard 4c.
[0051] The communication interface 401g is, for example, Ethernet
(registered trademark) interface. The computer 401 transmits and
receives data with the measurement mechanism unit 2 using a
predetermined communication protocol by means of the communication
interface 401g.
[0052] The image output interface 401h is connected to the display
device 4b configured by LCD, CRT, or the like, and is configured to
output an image signal corresponding to the image data provided
from the CPU 401a to the display device 4b. The display device 4b
displays the image (screen) according to the input image
signal.
[0053] As shown in FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, the display
device 4b displays a reagent managing screen 410 that displays the
arrangement of the reagents of a reagent storing section 6 to be
hereinafter described. The reagent managing screen 410 includes a
reagent arrangement displaying region 420, a reagent detailed
information displaying region 430, and an operation means
displaying region 440. A measurement start button 411 for starting
the measurement of the sample analyzer 1 and a measurement stop
button 412 for stopping the measurement are arranged on the reagent
managing screen 410. The display device 4b has a touch panel
function, so that the user can select or operate by directly
touching the button etc. displayed on the reagent managing screen
410.
[0054] On the reagent arrangement displaying region 420, a maximum
of ten first reagent marks 421 displayed in correspondence to the
arrangement state of the reagent in a first reagent table 11 on the
inner side, to be hereinafter described, a maximum of thirty second
reagent marks 422 displayed in correspondence to the arrangement
state of the reagent in a second reagent table 12 on the outer
side, to be hereinafter described, and a maximum of five
diluting/cleaning fluid marks 423 displayed in correspondence to
the arranging state of the diluting fluid or the cleaning fluid are
displayed in a specifiable manner. The first reagent mark 421
includes a position displaying part 421a for displaying the
position of the reagent, a reagent name displaying part 421b for
displaying the reagent name, and a remaining amount indicator 421c
for displaying the remaining amount of the reagent. Furthermore,
the second reagent mark 422 includes a position displaying part
422a for displaying the position of the reagent, a reagent name
displaying part 422b for displaying the reagent name, and a
remaining amount indicator 422c for displaying the remaining amount
of the reagent. The remaining amount indicators 421c and 422c are
displayed only when the remaining amount of the reagent becomes
less than or equal to a predetermined amount. The diluting/cleaning
fluid mark 423 includes a position displaying part 423a for
displaying the position of the diluting fluid/cleaning fluid, a
fluid name displaying part 423b for displaying a fluid name of the
diluting fluid/cleaning fluid, and a remaining amount indicator
(not shown) for displaying the remaining amount of the diluting
fluid/cleaning fluid.
[0055] In the present embodiment, the specified first reagent mark
421, the second reagent mark 422, or the diluting/cleaning fluid
mark 423 is displayed so as to be distinguishable from the reagent
marks or the diluting/cleaning fluid marks other than the specified
reagent marks (first reagent mark 421, second reagent mark 422, or
diluting/cleaning fluid mark 423). As shown in FIG. 7, for example,
the background with respect to the reagent name of the reagent name
displaying part of the non-specified reagent mark is displayed in
white (illustrated without hatching (diagonal lines)), whereas the
background with respect to the reagent name (e.g., SHP of second
reagent mark 422) of the reagent name displaying part of the
specified reagent mark is displayed in blue (illustrated with
hatching (diagonal lines)).
[0056] The positional information (holder number) of the reagent
displayed on the position displaying parts 421a and 422a of the
first reagent mark 421 and the second reagent mark 422 is displayed
by reading barcodes 311b, 312b (see FIG. 15) of a first reagent
container rack 310 and barcodes 321b to 326b (see FIG. 16) of a
second reagent container rack 320, to be hereinafter described,
with a barcode reader 350. The reagent name displayed on the
reagent name displaying parts 421b and 422b is displayed with
reference to a reagent master (table), to be hereinafter described,
based on the values obtained by reading a barcode 300a of a reagent
container 300 accommodating the reagent with the barcode reader 350
(see FIG. 5). The position displaying part 423a of the
diluting/cleaning fluid mark is always displayed since a holding
part 141 (see FIG. 5) of an urgent specimen setting section 140 for
holding a diluting/cleaning fluid container (not shown)
accommodating the diluting fluid or the cleaning fluid is fixed to
the sample analyzer 1. The fluid name displaying part 423b is
displayed with reference to the reagent master (table), to be
hereinafter described, based on the value obtained by reading a
barcode (not shown) of the diluting/cleaning fluid container (not
shown) accommodating the diluting fluid or the cleaning fluid with
a barcode reader 351.
[0057] In the present embodiment, the remaining amount of the
reagent displayed on the remaining amount indicators 421c and 422c
is calculated by the shape of the reagent container 300 specified
with reference to a container master (table) based on the value
obtained by reading the barcode 300a of the reagent container 300
with the barcode reader 350, and the height of the fluid level of
the reagent accommodated in the reagent container 300. If the
calculated remaining amount of the reagent is less than or equal to
the predetermined amount, the remaining amount of the reagent is
color-coded in correspondence to the remaining amount on the
remaining amount indicators 421c and 422c, and a warning is
displayed. For instance, if the remaining amount of the reagent is
less than or equal to the warning remaining amount, a predetermined
color (e.g., yellow (illustrated with left diagonal hatching in
"A13-4" of FIG. 7) is displayed on the remaining amount indicators
421c and 422c. If the remaining amount of the reagent is less than
or equal to a measurement canceling remaining amount that is less
than the warning remaining amount, a predetermined color (e.g., red
(illustrated with right diagonal hatching in "A13-3") is displayed
on the remaining amount indicators 421c and 422c. If the remaining
amount of the reagent is greater than the warning remaining amount,
the remaining amount indicators 421c and 422c are not displayed.
Since the remaining amount of the reagent is not known for the
reagents that have not been used even once since arranged in the
reagent table, a predetermined color (e.g., gray (illustrated as
region without hatching in "B11-2" of FIG. 19) is displayed on the
remaining amount indicator of the reagent mark corresponding to the
relevant reagent. The display of remaining amount in such remaining
amount indicators 421c and 422c will be hereinafter described in
detail.
[0058] The remaining amount of the diluting fluid or the cleaning
fluid displayed in the remaining amount indicator (not shown) of
the diluting/cleaning fluid mark 423 is calculated by the shape of
the diluting/cleaning fluid container (not shown) specified with
reference to the container master (table) based on the value
obtained by reading a barcode (not shown) of the diluting/cleaning
container accommodating the diluting fluid or the cleaning fluid
with the barcode reader 351 and the height of the fluid level of
the diluting fluid or the cleaning fluid accommodated in the
diluting/cleaning fluid container.
[0059] The first reagent mark 421 is divided into by twos for every
first rack mark 424 corresponding to five first reagent container
racks 310 (see FIG. 5) capable of holding two reagent containers
300 arranged in the first reagent table 11 (see FIG. 5) and
displayed. The second reagent mark 422 is divided into by sixes for
every second rack mark 425 corresponding to five second reagent
container racks 320 (see FIG. 5) capable of holding six reagent
containers 300 arranged in the second reagent table 12 (see FIG. 5)
and displayed. That is, the reagent managing screen 410 allows
checking of at which position of which reagent container rack
(first reagent container rack 310 or second reagent container rack
320) of which reagent table (first reagent table 11 or second
reagent table 12) the reagent is arranged.
[0060] If the reagent container rack is not arranged on the reagent
table, a circular rack non-arranged mark 426 with nothing shown on
the inside is displayed at a region corresponding to the portion
the reagent container rack is not arranged. If the first reagent
container rack 310 or the second reagent container rack 320 is
arranged on the first reagent table 11 or the second reagent table
12, and the reagent container 300 to be held by the reagent
container rack is not present, a reagent non-arranged mark 427 is
displayed at a region corresponding to the portion the reagent is
not arranged. The reagent non-arranged mark 427 has a position
displaying part 427a for displaying positional information (holder
number) of the portion the reagent is not arranged. This aspect
will be hereinafter described in detail.
[0061] Among the first reagent mark 421, the second reagent mark
422, the rack non-arranged mark 426, and the reagent non-arranged
mark 427, the mark positioned at a predetermined position has the
outer periphery of the mark shown in a predetermined color (e.g.,
brown (illustrated with heavy line). The mark A which outer
periphery is shown in brown indicates that the reagent arranged at
the relevant position is to be stirred. The reagent that needs
stirring is arranged at the position of the mark A which outer
periphery is shown in brown.
[0062] In the present embodiment, if the reagent that needs to be
stirred is not arranged at the position of the mark A which outer
periphery is shown in brown, a mistaken arrangement mark B (e.g.,
red x mark) is displayed on the reagent mark of the reagent that
needs stirring. An expired mark C (e.g., one red diagonal line
(illustrated with heavy line in the figure)) is displayed for the
reagent mark of the reagent which has expired, as hereinafter
described. The sample analyzer 1 is configured so as not to use the
reagent corresponding to the reagent mark shown with the reagent
mistaken arrangement mark or expired mark for measurement. A stable
time-out mark D (e.g. one yellow diagonal line (illustrated with
outlined line in the figure) is displayed for the reagent mark of
the reagent that has elapsed a predetermined time (e.g., eight
hours) from a set date or set time of the reagent, as hereinafter
described. When reading of the barcode 300a of the reagent
container 300 by the barcode reader 350 fails, a barcode reading
error mark E (e.g., "?" mark) is displayed on the reagent mark of
the reagent accommodated in the reagent container which reading has
failed.
[0063] On the reagent detailed information displaying region 430,
detailed information (holder number, reagent name, usage order,
usable remaining amount (usable amount), remaining number of tests,
necessity of stirring, lot number, type of reagent container,
expiration date of reagent, set date, set time etc.) of the reagent
corresponding to the specified first reagent mark 421 or the second
reagent mark 422 are displayed. More specifically, positional
information of the reagent displayed at a position displaying part
of the specified reagent mark is displayed on the "holder number"
column. Similar to the reagent name displaying part of the
specified reagent mark, the reagent name specified with reference
to the reagent master based on the value obtained by reading the
barcode 300a of the reagent container 300 with the barcode reader
350 is displayed on the "reagent name" column. The order of use in
the measurement when a plurality of the same reagents is arranged
on the reagent table is displayed on the "usage order" column. The
remaining amount of the reagent corresponding to the specified
reagent mark is displayed on the "usable amount" column. The value
obtained by dividing the "usable amount" by the reagent amount to
be used in one measurement is displayed on the "remaining number of
tests". Whether or not the reagent corresponding to the specified
reagent mark needs to be stirred is displayed on the "stirring"
column. The lot number specified with reference to the reagent lot
master based on the value obtained by reading the barcode 300a of
the reagent container 300 with the barcode reader 350 is displayed
on the "lot number" column. The type of container specified with
reference to the container master based on the value obtained by
reading the barcode 300a of the reagent container 300 with the
barcode reader 350 is displayed on the "type of container" column.
The expiration date corresponding to the lot number specified with
reference to the reagent lot master based on the value obtained by
reading the barcode 300a of the reagent container 300 with the
barcode reader 350 is displayed on the "expiration date" column.
The date and time the reagent corresponding to the specified
reagent mark was set in the sample analyzer 1 are displayed on the
"set date" column and the "set time" column. The user is able to
manage the reagents, e.g. to determine the changing timing of the
reagent with the detailed information of the reagent. If the
reading of the barcode failed and the detailed information of the
reagent are not displayed, the detailed information of the reagent
can be edited with a reagent information edit button 440b and a
reagent information edit dialogue 450, as hereinafter described.
The display of the detailed information of the reagent in the
reagent detailed information displaying region 430 will be
hereinafter described in detail.
[0064] A "replaced" button 431 is arranged on the reagent detailed
information displaying region 430. The "replaced" button 431 has a
function of having the sample analyzer 1 recognize that replacement
of the reagent has been performed by hand when the replaced reagent
is not recognized by the sample analyzer 1 when the reagent is
replaced. The "set date" and the "set time" of the reagent
displayed information displaying region 430 are updated to the time
the "replaced" button 431 was pushed by pushing the "replaced"
button 431.
[0065] The operation means displaying region 440 includes a
replacement/addition instructing button 440a for instructing
replacement and addition of the reagent, the edit button 440b for
editing the reagent information, a reagent lot setting button 440c
for assigning the reagent lot to the measurement item, a reagent
master setting button 440d, a reagent lot master setting button
440e, and a container master setting button 440f.
[0066] In the present embodiment, when the replacement/addition
instructing button 440a is selected with the first reagent mark 421
or the second reagent mark 422 specified, the first reagent
container rack 310 or the second reagent container rack 320 holding
the reagent container 300 that accommodates the reagent
corresponding to the specified reagent mark is moved to a
retrieving position enabling retrieval from the sample analyzer 1.
When addition of the reagent is performed, the replacement/addition
instructing button 440a is selected with the reagent non-arranged
mark 427 specified. The first reagent container rack 310 or the
second reagent container rack 320 corresponding to the rack mark
including the specified reagent non-arranged mark is thus moved to
the retrieving position. Similarly, when the replacement/addition
button 440a is selected with the diluting/cleaning fluid mark 423
specified, the diluting fluid or the cleaning fluid can be replaced
or added.
[0067] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a function of
color-coding and displaying so as to be identifiable by the user a
waiting position from when the replacement/addition button 440a is
pushed until the reagent container rack corresponding to the rack
mark including specified first reagent mark 421, the second reagent
mark 422, or the reagent non-arranged mark 427 is moved to the
retrieving position and a retrievable state in which the reagent
container rack can be retrieved to the outside from the retrieving
position is provided. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the first rack
mark 424 or the second rack mark 425 including the specified first
reagent mark 421, the second reagent mark 422, or the reagent
non-arranged mark 427 is displayed in a predetermined color (e.g.,
yellow) in the waiting state. In FIG. 8, the reagent of "B11-2" is
the target of replacement, and thus the rack mark including the
reagent of "B11-2" is displayed in the predetermined color (e.g.,
yellow (illustrated in left diagonal hatching in FIG. 8). As shown
in FIG. 9, the first rack mark 424 or the second rack mark 425 is
displayed in a predetermined color (e.g., green) in the retrievable
state. In FIG. 9, the rack mark including the reagent of "B11-2" is
displayed in the predetermined color (e.g., green (illustrated in
right diagonal hatching in FIG. 9)). The replacement and addition
of the reagent will be hereinafter described in detail.
[0068] Moreover, in the present embodiment, the detailed
information of the reagent corresponding to the specified reagent
mark can be edited by pushing the reagent information edit button
440b in the reagent mark specified state. Specifically, the reagent
information edit dialogue 450 is displayed when the reagent edit
button 440b is pushed, as shown in FIG. 11. The reagent information
edit dialogue 450 includes a setting changing work region 451 for
changing each item ("lot number", "set date", "expiration date",
etc.) of the detailed information, an update button 452, and a
cancel button 453. After the user edits the detailed information in
the setting changing work region 451, the edited detailed
information is reflected on the reagent detailed information
displaying region 430 by pushing the update button 452. The editing
of the detailed information is canceled by pushing the cancel
button 453. The editing of the detailed information of the reagent
will be hereinafter described in detail.
[0069] The reagent lot usage setting button 440c has a function of
displaying a reagent lot usage setting dialogue 460 for setting
whether the respective lot or the combination of the lots are
usable with respect to the plurality of reagent lots or the
combination of the plurality of reagent lots for each measurement
item. The specific example will be described with reference to FIG.
12. In FIG. 12, a case where "PT THS" and "F.II" is used as the
reagent used in the measurement item "F.II" is shown. Four lot
numbers "500509" to "500512" are usable in reagent "F.II", and one
lot number "505748" is usable in reagent "PT THS". That is, in FIG.
11, four types of combination are obtained for the combination of
reagent "PT THS" and reagent "F.II" when measuring the measurement
item "F.II". The user can set which combination out of the four
types of combinations to use for the measurement in the reagent lot
usage setting dialogue 460. The checkbox "use" has a function of
setting whether to use the combination of the corresponding
reagents for precision managing measurement and calibration curve
measurement. The checkbox "validate" has a function of setting
whether to use the combination of the corresponding reagents for
the normal specimen measurement. That is, in the example of FIG.
11, the combination of the reagent "PT THS" (lot number 505748) and
the reagent "F.II" (lot number 500512) is set so as to be used for
the precision managing measurement and the calibration curve
measurement, but not to be used for the normal specimen
measurement. The combination of the reagent "PT THS" (lot number
505748) and the reagent "F.II" (lot number 500511) is set so as to
be used for the precision managing measurement and the calibration
curve measurement, and to be also used for the normal specimen
measurement. The combination of the reagent "PT THS" (lot number
505748) and the reagent "F.II" (lot number 500510 or 500509) is set
so as not to be used for the precision managing measurement and the
calibration curve measurement, and also not to be used for the
normal specimen measurement. The plurality of reagents having
different lot numbers in one type of reagent thus can be assigned
for each measurement item.
[0070] The reagent master setting button 440d has a function of
displaying a reagent master setting dialogue (not shown) for
setting the reagent master (table) having a correspondence
relationship between the value read from the barcode 300a of the
reagent container 300 and the reagent name. The reagent lot master
setting button 440e has a function of displaying a reagent lot
master setting dialogue (not shown) for setting the reagent lot
master (table) having a correspondence relationship between the
value read from the barcode 300a of the reagent container 300 and
the reagent lot and expiration date. The container master setting
button 440f has a function of displaying a container master setting
dialogue (not shown) for setting the container mater (table) having
a correspondence relationship between the value read from the
barcode 300a of the reagent container 300 and the type of the
reagent container 300.
[0071] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the specimen conveyance mechanism
unit 3 is adapted to convey a rack 251 mounted with a plurality of
(ten in the present embodiment) test tubes 250 accommodating the
specimen to a suction position 2a (see FIG. 3) of the measurement
mechanism unit 2 to supply the specimen to the measurement
mechanism unit 2. The conveyance mechanism unit 3 includes a rack
set region 3a for setting the rack 251 in which the test tubes 250
accommodating non-processed blood specimen are accommodated, and a
rack accommodating region 3b for accommodating the rack 251 in
which the test tubes 250 accommodating processed specimen are
accommodated.
[0072] The measurement mechanism unit 2 is configured to perform
optical measurement on the specimen supplied from the conveyance
mechanism unit 3 to acquire optical information related to the
supplied specimen. In the present embodiment, optical measurement
is performed on the specimen dispensed into a cuvette 200 of the
measurement mechanism unit 2 from the test tube 250 mounted on the
rack 251 of the conveyance mechanism unit 3. The measurement
mechanism unit 2 includes a reagent storing section 6 for storing
the reagents and a reagent replacing section 7 for replacing or
adding the reagent, as shown in FIG. 3.
[0073] As shown in FIG. 17, the measurement mechanism unit 2
includes a specimen dispensing driving section 70a, a reagent
dispensing driving section 120a, a first driving section 502, a
second driving section 503, a first lock detecting section 504, a
second lock detecting section 505, the reagent barcode reader 350,
the specimen barcode reader 3c, a first optical information
acquiring section 80, a second optical information acquiring
section 130, and a control section 501 electrically connected to
the conveyance mechanism unit 3 and the like.
[0074] The measurement dispensing driving section 70a includes a
stepping motor part 70b having a function of rotating and moving up
and down the specimen dispensing arm 70 (see FIGS. 3 and 5), to be
hereinafter described, a drive circuit (not shown) for driving the
stepping motor portion 70b, and a pump (not shown) for pumping and
dispensing the specimen.
[0075] The reagent dispensing driving section 120a includes a
stepping motor part 120b having a function of rotating and moving
up and down the reagent dispensing arm 120 (see FIGS. 3 and 5), to
be hereinafter described, a drive circuit (not shown) for driving
the stepping motor 120b, and a pump (not shown) for pumping and
dispensing the reagent.
[0076] The first driving section 502 includes a first stepping
motor (not shown) having a function of rotating the first reagent
table 11 (see FIG. 5), to be hereinafter described, and a drive
circuit (not shown) for driving the first stepping motor. The first
reagent table 11 rotates by the amount corresponding to the number
of pulses of the driving pulse signal provided from the control
section 501 to the first driving section 502, and then stops.
[0077] Similarly, the second driving section 503 includes a second
stepping motor (not shown) having a function of rotating the first
reagent table 12 (see FIG. 5), to be hereinafter described, and a
drive circuit (not shown) for driving the second stepping motor.
The second reagent table 12 rotates by the amount corresponding to
the number of pulses of the driving pulse signal provided from the
control section 501 to the second driving section 503, and then
stops.
[0078] The control section 501 counts the number of pulses of the
provided driving pulse signal to determine the amount of rotation
movement of each reagent table 11, 12 from the position of origin
of the first reagent 11 and the second reagent table 12, and
controls the rotation movement of each reagent table 11, 12.
[0079] The first lock detecting section 504 has a function of
detecting a locked state of a first lid 30 (see FIG. 3), to be
hereinafter described, and transmitting a lock signal to the
control section 501 when locked.
[0080] Similarly, the second lock detecting section 505 has a
function of detecting a locked state of a second lid 40 (see FIG.
3), to be hereinafter described, and transmitting a lock signal to
the control section 501 when locked.
[0081] The reagent barcode reader 350 has a function of reading
each barcode on the first reagent table 11 and the second reagent
table 12, and is arranged in the vicinity of the side surface 21 of
the reagent storing section 6, to be hereinafter described, with a
predetermined distance from the reagent storing section 6 (see
FIGS. 3 to 5). The reagent barcode reader 350 is able to transmit
and receive data with the control section 501, and also includes a
drive circuit (not shown) for ON/OFF controlling the reagent
barcode reader 350. The position of the reagent barcode reader 350
is always fixed.
[0082] The specimen barcode reader 3c has a function of reading the
barcode attached to the test tube 250 in which the specimen mounted
on the rack 251 conveyed by the conveyance mechanism unit 3 is
accommodated, and is arranged in the vicinity of the suction
position 2a of the measurement mechanism unit 2 described above so
as to face the rack 251 conveyed by the conveyance mechanism unit 3
(see FIGS. 3 to 5). The specimen barcode reader 3c is able to
transmit and receive data with the control section 501, and also
includes a drive circuit (not shown) for ON/OFF controlling the
specimen barcode reader 3c. The position of the specimen barcode
reader 3c is always fixed.
[0083] The first optical information acquiring section 80 and the
second optical information acquiring section 130 (see FIGS. 3 and
5) respectively has a function of acquiring the optical information
of the specimen, and is configured to transmit and receive data
with the control section 501. The details of the first optical
information acquiring section 80 and the second optical information
acquiring section 130 will be hereinafter described in detail.
[0084] As shown in FIG. 18, the control section 501 is mainly
configured by a CPU 501a, a ROM 501b, a RAM 501c, and a
communication interface 501d.
[0085] The CPU 501a executes computer programs stored in the ROM
501b and the computer programs loaded in the RAM 501c. The ROM 501b
is recorded with computer programs to be executed by the CPU 501a,
data used for executing the computer program, and the like. The RAM
501c is used to read out the computer programs recorded on the ROM
501b. The RAM 501c is used as a work region of the CPU 501a when
executing the computer programs.
[0086] The communication interface 501d is connected to the control
device 4, and has a function of transmitting optical information of
the specimen to the control device 4 and receiving the signal form
the control section 4a of the control device 4. The communication
interface 501d has a function of transmitting commands from the CPU
501a to drive each section of the conveyance mechanism unit 3 and
the measurement mechanism unit 2.
[0087] As shown in FIG. 3, the measurement mechanism unit 2
includes the reagent storing section 6 for storing the reagent and
the reagent replacing section 7 for replacing or adding the
reagent.
[0088] The reagent storing section 6 is arranged to refrigerate the
reagent container 300 accommodating the reagent to be applied to
the specimen in the cuvette 200 at low temperature (about
10.degree. C.) and to convey the reagent container 300 in the
rotating direction. The alteration of the reagent is suppressed by
storing the reagent at low temperature. The reagent storing section
6 includes a reagent conveying part 10 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) for
holding and rotation conveying the reagent and an outer wall part
20 (see FIG. 3) arranged so as to cover the periphery and the upper
side of the reagent conveying part 10, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5.
The reagent conveying part 10 holding the reagent is arranged in
the refrigerating region formed by the outer wall part 20, and a
first lid 30 and a second lid 40 of the reagent replacing section
7, to be hereinafter described.
[0089] As shown in FIG. 5, the reagent conveying part 10 includes
the first reagent table 11 of circular shape, and the second
reagent table 12 of circular ring shape arranged concentrically
with respect to the first reagent table 11 on the outer side of the
first reagent table 11 of circular shape. The first reagent table
11 and the second reagent table 12 are respectively configured so
that the first reagent container rack 310 and the second reagent
container rack 320 for holding the reagent container 300 can be
removably arranged. The outer wall part 20 is configured by a side
face 21 (see FIG. 4), an upper face 22 (see FIG. 3) fixed to the
side face 21, and a detachable lid 23 (see FIG. 3). The barcode
reader 350 is arranged in the vicinity of the side face 21 (see
FIG. 4) of the reagent storing section 6 at a predetermined
distance with the reagent storing section 6.
[0090] The first reagent table 11 and the second reagent table 12
are respectively configured so as to be rotatable both in the
clockwise direction and in the counterclockwise direction, where
each table is rotatable independent from each other. The first
reagent container rack 310 and the second reagent container rack
320 for holding the reagent container 300 accommodating the reagent
are respectively conveyed in the rotating direction by the first
reagent table 11 and the second reagent table 12. The reagent to be
dispensed can be arranged close to the reagent dispensing arm 120
when the reagent dispensing arm 120, to be hereinafter described,
dispenses the reagent by conveying the reagent container 300 in the
rotating direction.
[0091] Furthermore, a heat insulation material (not shown) is
attached to the side face 21 of the outer wall part 20 so that
cooled air in the reagent storing section 6 (refrigerating region)
does not escape. As shown in FIG. 4, a shutter 21a that can be
opened and closed is arranged at a position facing the barcode
reader 350 of the side face 21 of the outer wall part 20. The
shutter 21a is configured to open only when reading the barcode of
the reagent container 300, the first reagent container rack 310,
and the second reagent container rack 320 by the barcode reader
350. The cooled air in the reagent storing section 6 (refrigerating
region) is thereby suppressed from escaping outside.
[0092] As shown in FIG. 3, the upper face 22 of the outer wall part
20 includes three holes 22a, 22b, and 22c. The suction of the
reagent stored in the reagent storing section 6 is performed by the
reagent dispensing arm 120 through the three holes 22a, 22b, and
22c. The hole 22a is positioned above the reagent container 300
held at the first reagent container rack 310. The suction of the
reagent is performed from the reagent container 300 held at the
first reagent container rack 310 through the hole 22a. The holes
22b and 22c are positioned above the reagent container 300 held in
the back row and the front row of the second reagent container rack
320. The suction of the reagent is performed from the reagent
container 300 held at the back row and the front row of the second
reagent container rack 320 through the holes 22b and 22c.
[0093] A semicircular opening is formed in the reagent storing
section 6 (refrigerating region) by detaching the lid 23 with the
first lid 30 and the second lid 40, to be hereinafter described.
When starting the measurement in the sample analyzer 1, the first
reagent container rack 310 and the second reagent container rack
320 are arranged in the reagent storing section 6 through such
opening.
[0094] As shown in FIG. 5, five first reagent container racks 310
can be arranged in the first reagent table 11. The reagent
containers 300 are arranged in a circular ring form in these five
first reagent container racks 310. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 15, the
first reagent container rack 310 includes two holding parts 310 and
312 for holding the reagent container 300, cut-out portions 311a
and 312a respectively arranged on the front face side of the
holding parts 311 and 312, and one gripping part 313 arranged so as
to project upward. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 13, the holding parts
311 and 312 are formed into a circular form in plan view, and are
able to hold the reagent container 300 when the reagent container
300 of cylindrical shape is inserted thereto. The reagent container
300 having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the
holding parts 311 or 312 can be held by the holding part 311 or 312
by attaching an adapter (not shown) to the holding part 311 or 312.
The first reagent container rack 310 includes two types of racks
formed so that the combination of the inner diameters of the
holding parts 311 and 312 is different. The user can respond to the
reagent container 300 of various sizes by appropriately changing
the type of rack. Barcodes 311b and 312b are respectively arranged
on the front face side of the outer surface of the holding parts
311 and 312, and barcodes 311c and 312c are respectively arranged
on the inner surface of the holding parts 311 and 312.
[0095] The two holding parts 311 and 312 can hold a plurality of
reagent containers 300 accommodating various reagents to be added
when preparing measurement sample from a specimen one by one. That
is, a maximum of ten (2.times.5=10) of reagent containers 300 can
be arranged on the first reagent table 11. Each cut-out portion
311a and 312a is arranged to read the barcodes 311c and 312c with
the barcode reader 350 (see FIG. 5). The gripping part 313 is
gripped when taking out the first reagent container rack 310 from
the reagent storing section 6.
[0096] Each barcode 311b and 312b includes positional information
(holder number) for identifying the position of the holding parts
311 and 312. The barcodes 311c and 312c include information (no
reagent container information) indicating that the reagent
container 300 held by the holding parts 311 and 312 does not exist.
Furthermore, the barcode 300a of the reagent container 300 includes
information for specifying the detailed information (information of
reagent name, type of reagent container, lot number, expiration
date of reagent, etc.) of the reagent accommodated in the reagent
container 300.
[0097] If the reagent container 300 is held in the holding part
311, for example, the barcode 311c is not read and the barcode 300a
of the reagent container 300 is read. That is, if the barcode 300a
is read after reading the barcode 311b with the barcode reader 350,
the control section 4a recognizes that the reagent having the
reagent information from the barcode 300a is held in the holding
part 311. In the reagent arrangement displaying region 420 of the
reagent managing screen 410, the first reagent mark 421 is
displayed at a position corresponding to the holding part 311. When
the barcode 311c is read after the barcode 311b is read by the
barcode reader 350, the control section 4a recognizes that the
reagent container 300 being held at the holding part 311 does not
exist. In the reagent arrangement displaying region 420 of the
reagent managing screen 410, the reagent non-arranged mark 427 is
displayed at the position corresponding to the holding part 311. If
either the barcode 300a or the barcode 311c is read after the
barcode 311b is read by the barcode reader 350 (when reagent
container 300 is facing the side), the control section 4a
recognizes a reading error and to display a barcode reading error
mark E indicating that reading has failed on the display device 4b.
If the first reagent container rack itself is not arranged in the
first reagent table 11, the barcode reader 350 is configured so as
not to read the barcodes 311b, 312b, 311c, 312c of the first
reagent container rack 310 and the barcode 300a of the reagent
container 300. Thus, in the reagent arrangement display region 420
of the reagent managing screen 410, the rack non-arranged mark 426
is displayed on the first rack mark 424 corresponding to the
portion not arranged with the first reagent container rack 310.
[0098] As shown in FIG. 5, five second reagent container racks 320
can be arranged in the second reagent table 12. The reagent
containers 300 are arranged in a circular ring form in these five
second reagent container racks 320. One of the five gaps of the
second reagent container rack 320 adjacent to each other has a
spacing larger than the spacing of the other four gaps. The
barcodes 311b and 312b of the first reagent container rack 310
arranged in the first reagent table 11 positioned on the inner side
of the second reagent table 12 and the barcode 300a of the reagent
container 300 held by the first reagent container rack 310 are read
by the barcode reader 350 positioned exterior to the reagent
storing section 6 by way of a gap 12a having the large spacing. As
shown in FIGS. 14 and 16, the second reagent container rack 320
includes six holding parts 321 to 326 for holding the reagent
container 300, cut-out portions 321a to 326a respectively arranged
on the front face side of the holding parts 321 to 326, and one
gripping part 327 arranged so as to project upward. Moreover, the
holding parts 321 to 326 of the second reagent container rack 320
are formed into a circular form in plan view, similar to the first
reagent container rack 310, and are able to hold the reagent
container 300 when the reagent container 300 of cylindrical shape
is inserted thereto. The second reagent container rack 320 includes
three types of racks formed so that the combination of the inner
diameters of the holding parts 321 to 326 is different. The reagent
same as the reagent arranged in the first reagent container rack
310 can be arranged in the second reagent container rack 320.
[0099] Barcodes 321b and 322b are respectively arranged on both
sides of the cut-out portion 321a on the front column side.
Similarly, barcodes 323b and 324b as well as barcodes 325b and 326b
are respectively arranged on both sides of the cut-put portion 323a
and on both sides of the cut-out portion 325a. Barcodes 321c to
326c are respectively arranged on the inner surface of the holding
parts 321 to 326.
[0100] Each barcode 321b to 326b include positional information
(holder number) for identifying the position of the holding parts
321 to 326. The barcodes 321c and 326c include information (no
reagent container information) indicating that the reagent
container 300 held by the holding parts 321 to 326 does not
exist.
[0101] Furthermore, the reagent information or no reagent container
information read by the barcode reader 350 are stored in a hard
disc 401d of the control section 4a in correspondence to the
positional information (holder number). The information stored in
the hard disc 401d is reflected on the reagent managing screen 410
of the display device 4b by the control section 4a of the control
device 4.
[0102] The barcodes 311b, 312b and 321b to 326b show four digit
values. The first digit takes a value of "A" or "B", where "A"
indicates that the reagent container 300 is arranged in the second
reagent table 12, and "B" indicates that the reagent container 300
is arranged in the first reagent table 11. The second digit takes a
value between "1" to "5", where "1" to "3" each indicates the shape
of the three types of the second reagent container rack 320, and
"4" and "5" each indicates the shape of the two types of the first
reagent container rack 310. The third digit takes a value between
"0" to "9" and indicates the number of the first reagent container
rack 310 or the second reagent container rack 320. The fourth digit
takes a value of "1" or "2" in the barcodes 311b and 312b of the
first reagent container rack 310, where "1" and "2" indicates the
holding part 311 and 312, respectively. The fourth digit takes a
value between "1" and "6" in the barcodes 321b to 326b of the
second reagent container rack 320, where "1" to "6" respectively
indicates the holding parts 321 to 326. The value of the barcode
(barcodes 311b, 312b and 321b to 326b) is reflected on the position
displaying part 421a of the first reagent mark 421, the position
displaying part 422a of the second reagent mark 422, or the
position displaying part 427a of the reagent non-arranged mark 427
of the reagent managing screen 410, as shown in FIG. 7. For
example, if the value of the barcode is "A11-6", this represents
the sixth holding part (holding part 326) of the second reagent
container rack 320 of rack number 1 in the rack (second reagent
container rack 320) corresponding to "1" of the three types
arranged in the second reagent table 12. That is, the first three
digits of the four digit values specify the reagent container rack,
and the last one digit specifies the position of the reagent in the
reagent container rack.
[0103] The reagent name of the detailed information is reflected on
the reagent name displaying parts 421b and 422b of the first
reagent mark 421 and the second reagent mark 422 of the reagent
managing screen 410. The no reagent container information is
reflected to the reagent non-arranged mark 427. As shown in FIG. 7,
the reagent name is displayed on the reagent name displaying part
421b or 422b if the reagent is arranged, and nothing will be
displayed on the reagent name displaying part 421b or 422b if the
reagent is not arranged. For example, the reagent name "CaC12" is
arranged in the reagent position "A12-5", and the reagent is not
arranged in the reagent position "A14-2".
[0104] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the reagent replacing section 7
is arranged in the vicinity of the central part of the sample
analyzer 1. In the present embodiment, the reagent replacing
section 7 includes detachable first lid 30 and second lid 40
including a lock mechanism 31 and 41, respectively, and a notifying
part 50 for notifying the conveyance state of the first reagent
table 11 and the second reagent table 12 to the user, as shown in
FIG. 3.
[0105] The first lid 30 is adapted so as to be detached when
replacing the reagent container 300 arranged in the first reagent
table 11 (first reagent container rack 310). The lock mechanism 31
of the first lid 30 is arranged to lock the first lid 30 so as not
to detach in time of normal use or after replacement or addition of
the reagent is finished and to have the control section 4a
recognize that replacement or addition of the reagent in the first
reagent table 11 is finished.
[0106] The second lid 40 is adapted so as to be detached when
replacing the reagent container 300 arranged in the second reagent
table 12 (second reagent container rack 320). The lock mechanism 41
of the second lid 40 is arranged to lock the second lid 40 so as
not to detach in time of normal use or after replacement or
addition of the reagent is finished and to have the control section
4a recognize that replacement or addition of the reagent in the
second reagent table 12 is finished.
[0107] The notifying part 50 includes two LED indicators 51 and 52.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the two LED indicators 51 and 52 are
arranged in the vicinity of the second lid 40, and are visible by
the user from outside the sample analyzer 1. The LED indicators 51
and 52 can emit light in blue or red.
[0108] The LED indicator 51 has a function of notifying the user
that the first reagent container rack 310 corresponding to the
reagent of the first reagent table 11 specified by the user in the
reagent managing screen 410 has moved to a retrieving position
(below the first lid 30) at where the reagent can be replaced.
Specifically, the LED indicator 51 is configured to emit a red
light while the first reagent table 11 is rotatably moving, and to
emit a blue light when the first reagent container rack 310
corresponding to the reagent of the specified first reagent table
11 is moved to the retrieving position and stopped. Thus the timing
of detaching the first lid 30 to replace or add the reagent can be
notified to the user.
[0109] The LED indicator 52 has a function of notifying the user
that the second reagent container rack 320 corresponding to the
reagent of the second reagent table 12 specified by the user in the
reagent managing screen 410 has moved to a retrieving position
(below the second lid 40) at where the reagent can be replaced.
Similar to the LED indicator 51, the LED indicator 52 is configured
to emit a red light while the second reagent table 12 is rotatably
moving, and to emit a blue light when the second reagent container
rack 320 corresponding to the reagent of the specified second
reagent table 12 is moved to the retrieving position and
stopped.
[0110] The sample analyzer 1 is configured such that the reading of
the barcode 300a of all the reagent containers 300 held in the
first reagent container rack 310 or the second reagent container
rack 320 holding the replaced reagent is automatically performed
after the user locks the first lid 30 or the second lid 40 when the
replacement or addition of the reagent is finished. When reagents
other than the specified reagent contained in the same first
reagent container rack 310 or the second reagent container rack 320
is replaced in addition to the specified reagent when one reagent
is specified and the replacement of the reagent is instructed, the
arrangement of the reagents after the replacement is correctly
reflected on the reagent managing screen 410.
[0111] Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the measurement
mechanism unit 2 includes a cuvette conveying section 60, the
specimen dispensing arm 70, the first optical information acquiring
section 80, a lamp unit 90, a warming section 100, a cuvette
transporting section 110, the reagent dispensing arm 120, the
second optical information acquiring section 130, the urgent
specimen setting section 140, a fluid section 150, and a cuvette
supply mechanism section 160.
[0112] The cuvette conveying section 60 has a function of conveying
the cuvette 200 to each section of the sample analyzer 1. The
cuvette conveying section 60 includes a cuvette conveying table 61
of circular ring shape arranged on the outer side of the second
reagent table 12 of circular ring shape, and a plurality of
cylindrical shaped cuvette holding parts 62 arranged at a
predetermined interval along the circumferential direction on the
cuvette conveying table 61. The cuvette holding part 62 is arranged
to hold the cuvette 200 one by one. The specimen accommodated in
the test tube 250 of the conveyance mechanism unit 3 and the
reagent held in the reagent holding section 6 are dispensed into
the cuvette 200 (see FIG. 5) held in the cuvette holding part 62 of
the cuvette conveying table 61 to prepare the measurement
sample.
[0113] The specimen dispensing arm 70 has a function of suctioning
the specimen accommodated in the test tube 250 conveyed to the
suction position 2a by the conveyance mechanism unit 3, and
dispensing the suctioned specimen into the cuvette 200 held by the
cuvette holding part 62 of the cuvette conveying table 61.
[0114] The first optical information acquiring section 80 is
configured to acquire optical information from the specimen to
measure the presence and the concentration of interfering
substances (milky fluid (fat), hemoglobin, and bilirubin) in the
specimen before the reagent is added. Specifically, the presence
and the concentration of the interfering substance are measured
using four types of light (405 nm, 575 nm, 660 nm, and 800 nm) out
of the five types of light (340 nm, 405 nm, 575 nm, 660 nm, and 800
nm) irradiated from the lamp unit 90 to be hereinafter described.
The light having a wavelength of 405 nm is light that is absorbed
by any one of milky fluid, hemoglobin, and bilirubin. That is, the
influence of milky fluid, hemoglobin, and bilirubin contributes to
the optical information measured by the light having the wavelength
of 405 nm. The light having a wavelength of 575 nm is light that is
not substantially absorbed by bilirubin but is absorbed by milky
fluid and hemoglobin. That is, influence of milky fluid and
hemoglobin contributes to the optical information measured by the
light having the wavelength of 575 nm. The light having a
wavelength of 660 nm and 800 nm are light that are not
substantially absorbed by bilirubin and hemoglobin but are absorbed
by milky fluid. That is, influence of milky fluid contributes to
the optical information measured by the light having the wavelength
of 660 nm and 800 nm. The milky fluid absorbs the light having the
wavelength from 405 nm of low wavelength region up to 800 nm of
high wavelength region, and the light having the wavelength of 660
nm is more absorbed by the milky fluid than the light having the
wavelength of 800 nm. That is, the influence of the milky fluid is
small in the optical information measured by the light having the
wavelength of 800 nm than in the optical information measured by
the light having the wavelength of 660 nm.
[0115] The acquisition of the optical information of the specimen
by the first optical information acquiring section 80 is performed
prior to the optical measurement (actual measurement) of the
specimen by the second optical information acquiring section 130.
The first optical information acquiring section 80 acquires optical
information (information by transmitted light of the specimen) from
the specimen in the cuvette 200 held by the cuvette holding part 62
of the cuvette conveying table 61.
[0116] Furthermore, the first optical information acquiring section
80 is electrically connected to the control section 4a of the
control device 4, and transmits the data (optical information)
acquired by the first optical information acquiring section 80 to
the control section 4a of the control device 4. Thus, analysis of
the data from the first optical information acquiring section 80 is
carried out in the control device 4, so that the absorbance of the
specimen in the cuvette 200 with respect to the five types of light
exited from a branched optical fibers 91 is obtained, and the
presence and the concentration of the interfering substances in the
specimen etc. are analyzed. In the present embodiment, judgment is
made on whether or not to analyze the optical information measured
in the second optical information acquiring section 130, to be
hereinafter described, based on the presence and the concentration
of the interfering substances in the specimen.
[0117] As shown in FIG. 5, the lamp unit 90 is arranged to provide
light (340 nm, 405 nm, 575 nm, 660 nm, and 800 nm) having five
types of wavelength used in the optical measurement performed in
the first optical information acquiring section 80 and the second
optical information acquiring section 130. That is, one lamp unit
90 is configured to be commonly used for the first optical
information acquiring section 80 and the second optical information
acquiring section 130. The light of the lamp unit 90 is provided to
the first optical information acquiring section 80 and the second
optical information acquiring section 130 by the branched optical
fiber 91 and the branched optical fiber 92, respectively.
[0118] The warming section 100 includes a plate 101 that can be
heat-retained, and is arranged with ten concave shaped cuvette
holding parts 101a. Each cuvette holding part 101a is capable of
holding one cuvette 200, and has a function of warming the specimen
in the cuvette 200 to about 37.degree. C. by holding the cuvette
200 dispensed with the specimen for a few minutes in the cuvette
holding part 101a. The specimen warmed by the warming section 100
is dispensed with reagent and subjected to measurement within a
constant time after warming is finished. The alteration of the
specimen, and the measurement sample prepared from the specimen and
the reagent is suppressed, and the measurement result
stabilizes.
[0119] The cuvette transporting section 110 is arranged to
transport the cuvette 200 among the cuvette conveying section 60,
the warming section 100, and the second optical information
acquiring section 130. The cuvette transporting section 110
includes a transport catcher part 111 for gripping the cuvette 200
and a driving part 112 for moving the transport catcher part 111.
The transport catcher part 111 is movable in the moving region 110a
by the drive of the driving part 112, and transports the cuvette
200 among the cuvette conveying section 60, the warming section
100, and a measurement mounting part 131 of the second optical
information acquiring section 130. A vibrating function is provided
to the transport catcher part 111, whereby the specimen and the
reagent in the cuvette 200 can be stirred by vibrating the cuvette
200 while gripping the cuvette 200.
[0120] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the reagent dispensing arm 120 is
arranged to mix the reagent with the specimen in the cuvette 200 by
dispensing the reagent in the reagent container 300 placed in the
reagent storing section 6 into the cuvette 200. Specifically,
suction of the reagent is performed through holes 22a, 22b, or 22c
(see FIG. 3) in the outer wall part 20 of the reagent storing
section 6, and the transport catcher part 111 takes out the cuvette
200 in which warming (37.degree. C.) is completed from the cuvette
holding part 101a of the warming section 100 and dispenses the
suctioned reagent into the cuvette 200 in a gripping state. A
warming function is provided to a pipette part 121 of the reagent
dispensing arm 120, and the suctioned reagent is instantaneously
warmed to about 37.degree. C. That is, the low temperature (about
10.degree. C.) stored reagent in the reagent storing section 6 is
mixed with the specimen of about 37.degree. C., which warming is
completed, while being warmed to about 37.degree. C. by the reagent
dispensing arm 120. Therefore, the reagent is added to the specimen
completed with optical measurement by the first optical information
acquiring section 80 to prepare the measurement sample.
[0121] In the present embodiment, the reagent dispensing arm 120 is
configured to move the pipette part 121 in the up and down
direction through pulse control by a stepping motor (not shown)
when performing the dispensing operation. A sensor (not shown) for
detecting the fluid level of the reagent when suctioning the
reagent from the reagent container 300 is arranged at the distal
end of the pipette part 121 of the reagent dispensing arm 120.
Thus, the height of the fluid level of the reagent in the reagent
container 300 can be calculated by the number of pulse until the
fluid level of the reagent is detected, and the movement amount for
one pulse. The procedures for calculating the height of the fluid
level of the reagent will be hereinafter described in detail.
[0122] In the present embodiment, when replacement of the reagent
is instructed during the operation of the reagent dispensing arm
120, the dispensing task of the reagent to be dispensed by the
reagent dispensing arm 120 from the reagent table containing the
specified reagent is stopped if the dispensing task of the reagent
to be dispensed is carried out from the reagent table containing
the specified reagent. In this case, if the reagent to be dispensed
is also contained in the reagent table different from the reagent
table containing the specified reagent, the reagent dispensing arm
120 stops the dispensing task of the reagent to be dispensed of the
reagent table containing the specified reagent, and continues the
dispensing task from the reagent to be dispensed contained in the
other reagent table. If the reagent to be dispensed is arranged
only in the reagent table containing the reagent instructed to be
replaced, the reagent dispensing arm 120 is configured so as not to
perform the dispensing operation after finishing the dispensing of
the reagent to be dispensed with respect to the specimen (specimen
waiting to be dispensed with reagent) being warmed in the warming
section 100 in time of replacement instruction. Therefore, the
measurement is performed within a constant time after warming even
for the specimen that is being warmed in the warming section 100 in
time of replacement instruction.
[0123] The second optical information acquiring section 130 has a
function of measuring optical information from the measurement
sample. As shown in FIG. 5, the second optical information
acquiring section 130 is configured by a measurement mounting part
131 and a detecting part 132 arranged below the measurement
mounting part 131.
[0124] The detecting part 132 of the second optical information
acquiring section 130 is configured so as to perform optical
measurement (actual measurement) under a plurality of conditions on
the measurement sample in the cuvette 200. The second optical
information acquiring section 130 is electrically connected to the
control section 4a of the control device 4 and transmits the
acquired data (optical information) to the control section 4a of
the control device 4. In the control device 4, the data (optical
information) transmitted from the second optical information
acquiring section 130 is analyzed based on the result of analysis
of the data (optical information) from the first optical
information acquiring section 80 acquired in advance, and displayed
on the display device 4b.
[0125] The light having the wavelength 660 nm irradiated from the
branched optical fiber 92 is the main wavelength used in measuring
Fbg (Fibrinogen content), PT (prothrombin time), and APTT
(activated partial thromboplastin time). The light having the
wavelength of 800 nm is the sub-wavelength used in measuring as
Fbg, PT, and APTT. The measuring wavelength of ATIII, which is the
measurement item of synthetic substrate method, is 405 nm, and the
measuring wavelength of D dimmer and FDP, which are the measurement
items of immunoturibidmetric method, is 800 nm. The measuring
wavelength of the platelet agglutination method is 575 nm.
[0126] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the urgent specimen setting
section 140 is arranged to perform specimen analyzing process on
the urgent specimen. The urgent specimen setting section 140 is
configured to cut the urgent specimen in when the specimen
analyzing process is being performed on the specimen supplied from
the conveyance mechanism unit 3. The urgent specimen setting
section 140 is slidable in the X direction and is arranged with
five holding parts 141 for holding the container (not shown)
accommodating diluting fluid and cleaning fluid. A barcode (not
shown) is attached to the container (not shown) accommodating the
diluting fluid and the cleaning fluid. The barcode of the diluting
fluid and the cleaning fluid is configured so as to be read by the
barcode reader 351 while the urgent specimen setting section 140 is
being slid in the X direction. Thus, the type, arrangement, and the
like of the diluting fluid and the cleaning fluid are displayed as
a diluting/cleaning fluid mark 423 of the reagent managing screen
410. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a lid 1c is arranged on the front
face side of the replacing section 7 of the sample analyzer 1. The
replacement or addition of the container (not shown) accommodating
the diluting fluid and the cleaning fluid is performed through the
lid 1c.
[0127] The fluid section 150 is arranged to supply fluid such as
cleaning fluid to the nozzle arranged in each dispensing arm
(specimen dispensing arm 70 and reagent dispensing arm 120) in the
shut-down process of the sample analyzer 1.
[0128] The cuvette supply mechanism section 160 is configured to
sequentially supply the plurality of cuvettes 200 randomly placed
by the user to the cuvette conveying section 60. As shown in FIGS.
3 to 5, the cuvette supply mechanism section 160 includes a first
hopper 161a, a second hopper 161b supplied with the cuvette 200
from the first hopper 161a and being smaller than the first hopper
161a; two induction plates 162 supplied with the cuvette 200 from
the second hopper 161b; a supporting table 163 arranged on the
lower end of the two induction plates 162; and a supply catcher
part 164 arranged at a predetermined distance from the supporting
table 163. The cuvette 200 supplied to the first hopper 161a is
slidably moved towards the supporting table 163 on the induction
plates 162 by way of the second hopper 161b which is smaller than
the first hopper 161a. The supporting table 163 rotatably
transports the cuvette 200 slidably moved on the induction plates
162 to a position allowing the supply catcher part 164 to grip the
cuvette 200. The supply catcher section 164 is arranged to supply
the cuvette 200 rotatably transported by the supporting table 163
to the rotation conveying section 60.
[0129] Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, a discarding hole 171
(see FIGS. 3 and 5) for discarding the cuvette 200 and a discarding
box 172 arranged under the discarding hole 171 are arranged at a
predetermined spacing from the supply catcher part 164 described
above in the measurement mechanism unit 2. The supply catcher part
164 described above can discard the cuvette 200 on a cuvette
conveying table 61 of the cuvette conveying section 60 to the
discarding box 172 through the discarding hole 171 (see FIGS. 3 and
5). That is, the supply catcher part 164 performs both supply and
discard of the cuvette 200.
[0130] The specimen analyzing operation of the sample analyzer 1
will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
The operation in the measurement using coagulation time will be
described herein.
[0131] First, the power of the measurement mechanism unit 2 and the
control device 4 of the sample analyzer 1 shown in FIG. 4 are
turned ON to perform the initial setting of the sample analyzer 1.
The operation for returning the mechanisms for moving the cuvette
200 and each dispensing arm (specimen dispensing arm 70 and reagent
dispensing arm 120) to the respective initial positions,
initialization of the software stored in the control section 4a of
the control device 4, and the like are thereby performed.
[0132] The rack 251 mounted with the test tube 250 accommodating
the specimen is conveyed by the conveyance mechanism unit 3 shown
in FIG. 5. The rack 251 in the rack set region 3a is thereby
conveyed to the position corresponding to the suction position 2a
of the measurement mechanism unit 2.
[0133] A predetermined amount of specimen is suctioned from the
test tube 250 by the specimen dispensing arm 70. The specimen
dispensing arm 70 is moved above the cuvette 200 held at the
cuvette conveying table 61 of the cuvette conveying section 60.
Thereafter, the specimen is discharged into the cuvette 200 of the
cuvette conveying table 61 from the specimen dispensing arm 70, and
the specimen is sorted in the cuvette 200.
[0134] The cuvette conveying table 61 is then rotated to convey the
cuvette 200 dispensed with the specimen to the position at where
measurement can be performed by the first optical information
acquiring section 80. The optical measurement is thus carried out
on the specimen by the first optical information acquiring section
80, and optical information is acquired from the specimen.
Specifically, the electric signal data from five types (340 nm, 405
nm, 575 nm, 660 nm, and 800 nm) of light transmitted through the
specimen in the cuvette 200 held in the cuvette holding part 62
(see FIG. 5) of the cuvette conveying table 61 are transmitted to
the control section 4a of the control device 4. The acquisition of
optical information (first optical information) on the specimen by
the first optical information acquiring section 80 is thereby
completed.
[0135] The control section 4a of the control device 4 calculates
the absorbance of the specimen using the received data (first
optical information) and calculates the presence and concentration
of the interfering substances (milky fluid, hemoglobin, bilirubin)
in the specimen. Specifically, the control section 4a of the
control device 4 calculates the absorbance of the specimen based on
the optical information (first optical information) acquired using
four types (405 nm, 575 nm, 660 nm, and 800 nm) of light irradiated
from the lamp unit 90, and stores the absorbance in the RAM
401c.
[0136] Subsequently, determination is made on whether or not the
absorbance at the main wavelength out of the absorbance stored in
the RAM 401c is lower than or equal to the threshold value.
Specifically, in the case where the examining items of the specimen
are the examining items of the coagulation time method such as
"PT", "APTT", "Fbg" etc., determination is made on whether or not
the absorbance calculated from the first optical information
measured by irradiating the light having the wavelength 660 nm,
which is the main wavelength for the relevant items, is lower than
or equal to a threshold value (e.g., 2.0).
[0137] If the absorbance at the main wavelength calculated from the
first optical information measured in the first optical information
acquiring section 80 is lower than or equal to the threshold value,
the cuvette 200 is transported to the warming section 100 from the
cuvette conveying table 61 by the cuvette transporting section 110.
The cuvette 200 accommodating the specimen which is made to about
37.degree. C. in the warming section 100 is then gripped by the
transport catcher part 111 of the cuvette transporting section 110.
With the cuvette 200 gripped by the transport catcher part 111, the
reagent dispensing arm 120 is driven, and the reagent in the
reagent container 300 placed on the reagent table (first reagent
table 11 or second reagent table 12) is added to the specimen in
the cuvette 200. In this state, the specimen and the reagent in the
cuvette 200 are stirred by the vibrating function of the transport
catcher part 111. The measurement sample is thereby prepared. The
cuvette 200 accommodating the measurement sample is then moved as
it is to the measurement mounting part 131 of the second optical
information acquiring section 130 by the cuvette transporting
section 110.
[0138] The optical information (second optical information) is
acquired from the measurement sample by performing the optical
measurement (actual measurement) under the plurality of conditions
on the measurement sample in the cuvette 200 by the detecting part
132 of the second optical information acquiring section 130.
Specifically, the light from the branched optical fiber 92 of the
lamp unit 90 is first irradiated on the cuvette 200 of the
measurement mounting part 131. Lights having five different
wavelengths (340 nm, 405 nm, 575 nm, 660 nm, and 800 nm) are
irradiated from the branched optical fiber 132. The electric signal
data corresponding to the light of each wavelength irradiated from
the branched optical fiber 92 and transmitted through the cuvette
200 and the measurement sample in the cuvette 200 are then
acquired.
[0139] The electric signal data corresponding to the light having
five different wavelengths are sequentially transmitted to the
control section 4a of the control device 4. The acquisition of the
optical information (second optical information) on the measurement
sample by the second optical information acquiring section 130 is
thereby completed.
[0140] If the absorbance at the main wavelength calculated from the
first optical information measured in the first optical information
acquiring section 80 is greater than the threshold value,
determination is made on whether or not the absorbance at the
sub-wavelength calculated from the first optical information
measured in the first optical information acquiring section 80 is
lower than or equal to a threshold value. Specifically, in the case
where the examining items of the specimen are examining items of
the coagulation time method such as "PT", "APTT", "Fbg" and the
like, determination is made on whether or not the absorbance
calculated from the first optical information measured by
irradiating the light having the wavelength 800 nm, which is the
sub-wavelength for the relevant items, is lower than or equal to a
threshold value (e.g., 2.0).
[0141] If the absorbance at the sub-wavelength calculated from the
first optical information measured in the first optical information
acquiring section 80 is lower than or equal to the threshold value,
the optical information (second optical information) on the
measurement sample is acquired by the second optical information
acquiring section 130.
[0142] If the absorbance at the sub-wavelength calculated from the
first optical information measured in the first optical information
acquiring section 80 is greater than the threshold value, the
analysis of high reliability is judged as difficult to conduct
since the influence of the interfering substances (milky fluid,
hemoglobin, bilirubin) in the specimen is large, and the actual
measurement is canceled. The reagent cannot be added to the
non-analyzable specimen significantly influenced by the interfering
substances and the measurement sample cannot be prepared, and thus
the reagent is suppressed from becoming a waste. A situation where
measurement of high reliability is difficult to conduct (when
canceling the actual measurement) includes a case where the light
transmitting through the specimen is shielded due to the presence
of a great amount of interfering substances in the specimen
detected in the first optical information acquiring section 80, and
the transmitted light that has transmitted through the specimen
cannot be substantially detected.
[0143] After the acquisition (actual measurement) of the second
optical information by the second optical information acquiring
section 130 described above, the second optical information of the
measurement sample measured at the main wavelength out of the
plurality of second optical information measured in the second
optical information acquiring section 130 is transmitted to the
control section 4a of the control device 4, and is analyzed by the
application program 404a installed in the hard disc 401d of the
control section 4a. For instance, when the examining item of the
specimen is "PT", the second optical information measured by
irradiating the light having a wavelength of 660 nm, which is the
main wavelength of "PT", is transmitted to the control section 4a
of the control device 4. Thereafter, the control section 4a that
has received the second optical information acquired at the main
wavelength outputs the result of analysis based on the second
optical information.
[0144] Similarly, after the acquisition (actual measurement) of the
second optical information by the second optical information
acquiring section 130, the second optical information of the
measurement sample measured at the sub-wavelength out of the
plurality of second optical information measured in the second
optical information acquiring section 130 is transmitted to the
control section 4a of the control device 4, and is analyzed by the
application program 404a installed in the hard disc 401d of the
control section 4a. For instance, when the examining item of the
specimen is "PT", the second optical information measured by
irradiating the light having a wavelength of 800 nm, which is the
sub-wavelength of "PT", is transmitted to the control section 4a of
the control device 4. Thereafter, the control section 4a that has
received the second optical information acquired at the
sub-wavelength outputs the result of analysis based on the second
optical information.
[0145] After the analysis by the control section 4a of the control
device 4 is finished, the obtained result of analysis is displayed
on the display device 4b of the control device 4. The analyzing
operation of the specimen of the sample analyzer 1 is thereby
terminated.
[0146] FIG. 27 is a flowchart describing the measurement process
flow of the control section 4a of the control device 4 and the
control section 501 of the measurement mechanism unit 2 of the
sample analyzer 1 according to the present embodiment. The
measurement flow process of the control section 4a and the control
section 501 of the sample analyzer 1 according to the present
embodiment will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 3, 7,
and 27.
[0147] First, the power (not shown) of the measurement mechanism
unit 2 is turned ON, so that initialization of the control section
501 (initialization of the program) is executed and the operation
check of each section of the measurement mechanism unit 2 is
performed in step S1. The power (not shown) of the control device 4
is then turned ON, so that initialization of the control section 4a
(initialization of the program) is executed in step S11. After
initialization of the control section 501 is completed, the control
section 501 requests an initialization completed signal indicating
the completion of initialization of the control section 4a, and
after receiving such initialization completed signal, controls the
barcode reader 350 so that the barcodes of all the reagents set in
the reagent storing section 6 and the barcodes of the reagent rack
are read. The read barcode information is transmitted from the
control section 501 to the control section 4a, and stored in the
hard disc 401d of the control section 4a.
[0148] In step S12, a menu screen (not shown) is displayed on the
display device 4b, where the user pushes the start button displayed
on the menu screen to transmit a measurement start signal from the
control section 4a to the control section 501 in step S13. If the
start button is not pushed in step S12, the process proceeds to
step S19.
[0149] In step S2, judgment is made on whether or not the
measurement start signal is received by the control section 501,
where the process proceeds to step S3 if judged that the
measurement start signal is received, and the process proceeds to
step S6 if judged that the measurement start signal is not
received.
[0150] In step S3, the process of dispensing the reagent to the
specimen dispensed in the cuvette 200 is performed, and detection
of the fluid level is performed when suctioning the reagent to
acquire the fluid level detection information, and such fluid level
detection information is transmitted from the control section 501
to the control section 4a. In step S4, measurement of the specimen
dispensed with the reagent is performed in the first optical
information acquiring section 80 and the second optical information
acquiring section 130, and in step S5, the measurement result is
transmitted from the control section 501 to the control section
4a.
[0151] In step S14, judgment is made on whether or not the fluid
level detection information is received by the control section 4a,
where the process proceeds to step S115 if the fluid level
detection information is received, and the process proceeds to step
S19 if the fluid level detection information is not received. In
step S15, the reagent remaining amount calculating process is
performed by the control section 4a. The reagent remaining amount
calculating process will be hereinafter described, but is a process
of calculating the remaining amount of reagent based on the fluid
level detection information and storing the remaining amount of
reagent in the hard disc 401d.
[0152] In step S16, judgment is made on whether or not the
measurement result is received by the control section 4a, where the
process proceeds to step S17 if the measurement result is received,
and the process proceeds to step S119 if the measurement result is
not received. In step S17, the measurement result is analyzed by
the control section 4a, and in step S18, the result of analysis is
stored in the hard disc 401d.
[0153] In step S19, judgment is made on whether or not instruction
to display the reagent managing screen 410 is made by the control
section 4a (whether or not the reagent button (not shown) for
displaying the reagent managing screen 410 of the menu screen is
pushed), where the process proceeds to step S20 if such display
instruction of the reagent managing screen 410 is made, and the
process proceeds to step S27 if the display instruction of the
reagent managing screen 410 is not made. In step S20, the reagent
managing screen 410 is displayed by the control section 4a. When
the reagent managing screen 410 is displayed, information necessary
for the first reagent mark 421, the second reagent mark 422, and
the reagent detailed information displaying region 430 are
reflected based on the read barcode information (step S1) and the
calculated reagent remaining amount (step S15) by the control
section 4a (see FIG. 7). The remaining amount of the reagent is
displayed on the remaining amount indicator 421c of the first
reagent mark 421 and the remaining amount indicator 422c of the
second reagent mark 422 displayed on the reagent arrangement
displaying region 420 of the reagent managing screen 410. There are
three types of calculated reagent remaining amount to be
hereinafter described, the first reagent remaining amount, the
second reagent remaining amount, and the third reagent remaining
amount. The remaining amount indicator is displayed in red for the
first reagent remaining amount, the remaining amount indicator is
displayed in yellow for the second reagent remaining amount, and
the remaining amount indicator is not displayed for the third
reagent remaining amount.
[0154] In step S21, judgment is made on whether or not the reagent
to be replaced is specified by the control section 4a in the
reagent managing screen 410 of the display device 4b having a touch
panel mechanism. The details on specifying the reagent will be
described below. The user first references the reagent arrangement
displaying region 420 of the reagent managing screen 410 shown in
FIG. 7 to check the arrangement of the reagents. The user also
specifies an arbitrary reagent by directly touching by hand the
first reagent mark 421 or the second reagent mark 422 where the
reagent is displayed from the plurality of first reagent marks 421
or the second reagent marks 422, and checks the detailed
information of the specified reagent displayed on the reagent
detailed information displaying region 430. The background color
(e.g., blue (with hatching (diagonal lines) in FIG. 7)) of the
reagent name displaying part of the specified reagent mark "SHP" is
displayed so as to be different from the background color (e.g.,
white (without hatching (diagonal lines) in FIG. 7)) of the reagent
name displaying part of the reagent mark other than the reagent
mark "SHP". After the user determines the reagent to be replaced,
the user specifies the first reagent mark 421 or the second reagent
mark 422 where the reagent to be replaced is displayed. If judged
that the reagent is specified by the control section 4a in step
S21, the process proceeds to step S22, and if judged that the
reagent is not specified, the process proceeds to step S27.
[0155] In step S22, the reagent detailed information displaying
process in which the reagent detailed information of the specified
reagent is displayed on the reagent detailed information display
region 430 is performed, and in step S23, judgment is made on
whether or not instruction for reagent replacement is made (whether
or not replacement/addition button 440a is pushed) by the control
section 4a. In FIG. 7, the reagent "SHP" of the reagent position
"A11-6" is specified, and the detailed information of the reagent
"SHP" is displayed on the reagent detailed information displaying
region 430. If judged that instruction for reagent replacement is
made in step S23, the reagent replacing process is performed by the
control section 4a and the reagent replacement signal is
transmitted from the control section 4a to the control section 501
in step S24. If judged that instruction for reagent replacement is
not made in step S23, the process proceeds to step S25.
[0156] In step S25, judgment is made on whether or not editing
instruction of the reagent information is made by the control
section 4a, where the process proceeds to step S26 if the editing
instruction of the reagent information is made, and the process
proceeds to step S27 if the editing instruction for the reagent
information is not made. In step S26, the editing process of the
reagent information is carried out by the control section 4a.
[0157] In step S27, judgment is made on whether or not instruction
for shut-down is made (whether or not shut-down button (not shown)
is pushed from the menu screen) by the control section 4a, where
the process proceeds to step S28 if judged that the instruction for
shut-down is made, and the process returns to step S12 if judged
that the instruction for shut-down is not made. In step S28, the
shut-down signal is transmitted from the control section 4a to the
control section 501, the shut-down of the control device 4 is
carried out, and the process is terminated.
[0158] In step S6, judgment is made on whether or not the reagent
replacement signal is received by the control section 501, where
the process proceeds to step S7 if judged that the reagent
replacement signal is received, and the process proceeds to step S8
if judged that the reagent replacement signal is not received. In
step S7, the reagent replacing process is carried out by the
control section 501.
[0159] In step S8, judgment is made on whether or not the shut-down
signal is received, where the process proceeds to step S9 if judged
that the shut-down signal is received, and the process returns to
step S2 if judged that the shut-down signal is not received. In
step S9, the shut-down of the measurement mechanism unit 2 is
executed, and the process is terminated.
[0160] In the measurement process flow of the control section 501,
step S3, step S4, and step S7 are parallel processed. Furthermore,
in the measurement process flow of the control section 4a, step
S15, step S17, step S20, step S22 and step S26, and step S24 are
parallel processed.
[0161] FIG. 19 is a flowchart for describing the details of the
reagent replacing process of the control section 4a executed in
step S24 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 27. FIG. 20 is a flowchart
for describing the details of the reagent replacing process of the
control section 501 executed in step S7 of the flowchart shown in
FIG. 27. The reagent replacing process flows of the control section
4a and the control section 501 of the reagent analyzer 1 according
to the present embodiment will now be described with reference to
FIGS. 3, 7 to 10, 19, and 20.
[0162] First, in step S31 shown in FIG. 19, the rack mark
corresponding to the reagent container rack accommodating the
specified reagent ("B11-2" of FIG. 8) is displayed in a
predetermined color (e.g., yellow (illustrated in left diagonal
hatching in FIG. 8)). With such display, the user can recognize
that the reagent container rack accommodating the specified reagent
is moving to the retrieving position. In the reagent replacing
section 7, the LED indicator 51 or the LED indicator 52 emits a red
light while the reagent container rack accommodating the specified
reagent is moving to the retrieving position. An example of
replacing the reagent "X1" of "B11-2" will be described herein.
[0163] In step S41 shown in FIG. 20, judgment is made on whether or
not any of the specimen waiting to be dispensed with reagent
described above uses the reagent of the reagent table (hereinafter
referred to as reagent replacement target table) containing the
rack holding the specified reagent by the control section 501, and
if there is a specimen waiting to be dispensed with reagent that
uses the reagent of the reagent replacement target table when
receiving the reagent replacement signal, the dispensing of the
reagent to the specimen is executed in step S42. All dispensing of
the reagent from the reagent replacement target table to the
specimen waiting to be dispensed with reagent that uses the reagent
of the reagent replacement target table is performed by repeating
step S41 and step S42. When there is a specimen that uses the
reagent of the reagent replacement target table in the specimen
waiting to be dispensed with reagent when instruction for reagent
replacement is made, the reagent is dispensed to the relevant
specimen before the execution of the reagent replacement. When the
specimen is dispensed to the cuvette 200 and the measurement is
started, the reagent must be dispensed to the relevant specimen
after a predetermined time has elapsed, where the specimen cannot
be used for the measurement unless such dispensing is properly
performed, and thus must be discarded. Therefore, a predetermined
process is performed on the specimen (specimen waiting to be
dispensed with reagent) which measurement has started, and the
measurement must be completed without being interrupted. If there
is no specimen that uses the reagent of the reagent table of
reagent replacement target in the specimen waiting to be dispensed
with reagent when instruction for reagent replacement is made, the
control section 501 executes the processes after step S43 and
performs the reagent replacement operation. That is, in step S41,
when there is no specimen waiting to be dispensed with reagent, or
when the specimen uses the reagent of the reagent table none of
which is reagent replacement target (even when there are any
specimen waiting to be dispensed with reagent), the reagent
replacement target table does not need to be accessed, and thus the
reagent replacement operation is executed. Therefore, in both cases
when there is specimen that uses the reagent of the reagent table
of reagent replacement target in the specimen (specimen waiting to
be dispensed with reagent) waiting to be dispensed with reagent
when instruction for reagent replacement is made, and where there
is no such specimen, the specimen waiting to be dispensed with
reagent does not need to be discarded, and thus the specimen will
not becomes a waste, and reagent replacement will be rapidly
performed.
[0164] In step S41, if judged that all the specimens waiting to be
dispensed with reagent do not use the reagent of the reagent table
of reagent replacement target, the first driving section 502 or the
second driving section 503 is controlled by the control section
501, and the reagent table of reagent replacement target rotates,
so that the first reagent container rack 310 or the second reagent
container rack 320 holding the specified reagent moves to the
retrieving position (below first lid 30 or second lid 40) in step
S43. In such process, the control section 501 issues a command to
instruct the movement of the reagent replacement target table to
the drive circuit. When the drive circuit receives such command, a
reagent replacement flag of a status register incorporated in the
drive circuit is set. In other words, the reagent replacement
status described above is set to ON for the reagent replacement
target table containing the reagent instructed to be replaced by
the user. The reagent replacement status has either the reagent
replacement status of the first reagent table 11 and the reagent
replacement status of the second reagent table 12 set to ON. When
the reagent container rack holding the specified reagent is moved
to the retrieving position, a movement end signal indicating that
the reagent container rack holding the specified reagent has moved
to the retrieving position is transmitted to the control section 4a
by the control section 501 in step S44. The amount of rotation
movement of each reagent table 11, 12 from the origin position of
the first reagent table 11 and the second reagent table 12 can be
determined by counting the number of pulses of the drive pulse
signal provided to the first driving section 502 or the second
driving section 503 by the control section 501. The control section
501 thus recognizes that the first reagent table 11 or the second
reagent table 12 has moved to the retrieving position by the
movement amount from the origin position, and generates the
movement end signal based on such recognition.
[0165] When the movement end signal is transmitted from the control
section 501 to the control section 4a, judgment is made on whether
or not the movement end signal is received by the control section
4a in step S32 shown in FIG. 19. If judged that the movement end
signal is received in step S32, notification that the reagent
container rack holding the specified reagent has moved to the
retrieving position is made to the user in step S33. Specifically,
the rack mark displayed in the predetermined color (e.g., yellow
(illustrated in left diagonal hatching in FIG. 8)) in step S31
described above is displayed in a predetermined color (e.g., green
(illustrated in right diagonal hatching in FIG. 9)) in the reagent
managing screen 410. In the reagent replacing section 7, when the
reagent container rack holding the specified reagent is moved to
the retrieving position, the LED indicator 51 or the LED indicator
52 that emitted a red light during the movement of the reagent
container rack now emits a blue light. The notification that the
reagent container rack holding the specified reagent has moved to
the retrieving position is thereby made to the user.
[0166] The lock mechanism of the lid of the table of reagent
replacement target is unlocked by the user for the reagent
replacement task. An unlock signal is transmitted from the lock
detecting part of the lid to the control section 501, and judgment
is made on whether or not the lock of the lid is unlocked by the
control section 501 in step S45. Regarding the reagent replacement
task by the user, after the first lid 30 or the second lid 40 in an
unlocked state is detached by the user, the gripping part (gripping
part 313 or 327) of the reagent container rack at the retrieving
position (below first lid 30 or second lid 40) is gripped by the
user and retrieved. The reagent container 300 accommodating the
specified reagent is replaced with the reagent container 300
accommodating the new reagent by the user. Thereafter, the reagent
container rack arranged with the replaced reagent is then returned
to the retrieving position, and the user attaches and locks the
first lid 30 or the second lid 40. A lock signal is transmitted
from the lock detecting part of the lid to the control section 501,
and judgment is made on whether or not the lid is locked by the
control section 501 in step S46.
[0167] If judged that the first lid 30 or the second lid 40 is
locked by the control section 501 in step S46, the barcode reading
operation is performed in step S47. In the barcode reading
operation, the control section 501 controls the first reagent table
11 or the second reagent table 12 and the barcode reader 350 so as
to perform the reading of the barcode by the barcode reader 350
with respect to the first reagent container rack 310 or the second
reagent container rack 320 arranged with the replaced reagent.
Specifically, in reading the barcodes 300a, 321b to 326b, or 321c
to 326c of the second reagent container rack 320 and the reagent
container 300 held in the second reagent container rack 320, the
barcode 321b for identifying the positional information (holder
number) is first read while rotating the second reagent table 12 in
the direction of the arrow G (counterclockwise direction) in FIG.
5. Subsequently, the barcode 300a for identifying the detailed
identifying information or the barcode 321c for identifying the
no-container information are read, and thereafter, the barcode 322b
representing the positional information is read. Thus, the
positional information (holder number) (barcodes 321b to 326b) and
the detailed identifying information (barcode 300a) or the
no-container information (barcodes 321c to 326c) corresponding to
the positional information are alternately read. The detailed
identifying information includes container type information,
reagent ID, and lot number.
[0168] In reading the barcodes 300a, 311b to 312b, or 311c to 312c
of the first reagent container rack 310 and the reagent container
300 held in the first reagent container rack 310, the second
reagent table 12 is first rotatably moved until reaching the
position at where the gap 12a (see FIG. 5) of the second reagent
table 12 faces the barcode reader 350. Thereafter, similar to when
reading the barcode 300a of the second reagent container rack 320
described above and the reagent container 300 held in the second
reagent container rack 320, the barcode reader 350 alternately
reads the positional information (holder number) (barcodes 311b to
312b) and the detailed identifying information (barcode 300a) or
the no-container information (barcodes 311c to 312c) corresponding
to the positional information through the gap 12a (see FIG. 5)
while the first reagent table 11 is being rotated in the direction
of the arrow G (counterclockwise direction) of FIG. 5. The read
positional information and the detailed identifying information or
the no-container information corresponding to the positional
information (holder number) are transmitted to the control section
501 and stored in the RAM 501c.
[0169] In step S48, the barcode read information stored in the RAM
501c is transmitted to the control section 4a by the control
section 501.
[0170] When the barcode read information is transmitted from the
control section 501 to the control section 4a, judgment is made on
whether or not the barcode read information is received by the
control section 4a in step S34 shown in FIG. 19. If judged that the
barcode read information is received in step S34, the barcode read
information is stored in the hard disc 401d in step S35, and the
process proceeds to step S36. In step S36, the detailed information
such as reagent name, type of container, lot number, and expiration
date for all the reagents in the reagent rack holding the replaced
reagent are acquired with reference to the reagent master, the
reagent lot master, and the container master described above based
on the barcode read information ((positional information) holder
number, reagent ID, and container type information) stored in the
hard disc 401d by the control section 4a. In step S36, the detailed
information such as positional information, acquired reagent name,
type of container, lot number, and expiration date are reflected on
the first reagent mark 421, second reagent mark 422 or reagent
non-arranged mark 427 and the reagent detailed displaying region
430 of the reagent managing screen 410 by the control part 4a (see
FIG. 10). Since the remaining amount of the replaced reagent is
unknown, the remaining amount indicator is displayed in a
predetermined color (gray).
[0171] FIG. 21 is a flowchart for describing the details of the
dispensing process of the control section 501 executed in step S3
of the flowchart shown in FIG. 27. The dispensing process flow the
control section 501 of the sample analyzer 1 according to the
present embodiment will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3,
5, and 21.
[0172] First, in step S51 shown in FIG. 21, the barcode attached to
the test tube 250 accommodating the specimen conveyed by the
conveyance mechanism unit 3 is read by controlling the barcode
reader 3c by the control section 501. In step S52, the order is
acquired based on the read barcode information by the control
section 501, and the process proceeds to step S53. In step S53,
judgment is made on whether or not the reagent replacement status
of the first reagent table 11 or the second reagent table 12 is set
to ON by the control section 501. This process is performed by the
control section 501 checking the status register incorporated in
the drive circuit of the reagent replacement target table. If
judged that one of the reagent replacement statuses of the first
reagent table 11 and the second reagent table 12 is set to ON in
step S53, the process proceeds to step S54. If judged that neither
reagent replacement status is set to ON in step S53, the process
proceeds to step S56. The order will be described below. The order
is information containing analyzing items associated with the
information for specifying the specimen. The order is registered in
a host computer (not shown) connected to the control device 4 or
stored in the control device 4 by being manually input by the user.
After acquiring the barcode information of the specimen, the
control device 4 searches for the corresponding order from the
order stored inside or acquires the order by inquiring the host
computer with the specimen ID as the key. The order acquired by the
control device 4 is transmitted from the control section 4a of the
control device 4 to the control section 501 of the measurement
mechanism unit 2, so that the control section 501 acquires the
order.
[0173] In step S56, the specimen dispensing driving section 70a is
controlled according to the order by the control section 501, the
specimen accommodated in the test tube 250 conveyed by the
conveyance mechanism unit 3 is suctioned by the specimen dispensing
arm 70, and the suctioned specimen is dispensed into the cuvette
200 held at the cuvette holding part 62 of the cuvette conveying
table 61. In step S57, the reagent dispensing driving section 70a
is controlled by the control section 501, and suction of the
reagent is carried out through the holes 22a, 22b, or 22c (see FIG.
3) of the outer wall part 20 of the reagent storing section 6 by
the reagent dispensing arm 120, and the suctioned reagent is
dispensed into the cuvette 200 completed with warming. As shown in
FIG. 23, in step S57, the pipette part 121 of the reagent
dispensing arm 120 moves below the initial position (height H1) for
suctioning the reagent. The pipette part 121 is driven by the
stepping motor, and moves by a movement distance D every time one
pulse is input to the stepping motor. The fluid level of the
reagent is detected by the sensor arranged at the distal end of the
pipette part 121 thereon. The number of pulse P, which is one of
the fluid level detection information of when the sensor detects
the fluid level of the reagent, is acquired.
[0174] If judged that one of the reagent replacement status of the
first reagent table 11 and the second reagent table 12 is set to ON
by the control section 501 in step S53, judgment is made on whether
or not the reagent analyzing item specified by the acquired order
uses the reagent of the reagent replacement target table in step
S54. If judged that the reagent analyzing item specified by the
acquired order does not use the reagent of the reagent replacement
target table in step S54, the process proceeds to steps S56 and
S57, and the processes described above are performed. Furthermore,
if judged that the analyzing item specified by the acquired order
uses the reagent of the reagent replacement target table, the
acquired order is held in step S55. The steps S51 to S55 are
repeated until judged that the reagent analyzing item specified by
the acquired order does not use the reagent of the reagent
replacement target table. Regarding the held order, if judged that
the reagent analyzing item specified by the acquired order does not
use the reagent of the reagent replacement target table, the
processes of step S56 and S57 are executed in order.
[0175] The reagent is replaced as described above in the present
embodiment.
[0176] In the above description, a case of replacing the reagent
has been described, but when adding the reagent, specification of
the reagent non-arranged mark 427 corresponding to the holding part
311, 312 or 321 to 326 arranged with the reagent to be added is
carried out in step S21 shown in FIG. 27. The details of specifying
the reagent displaying region when adding the reagent will be
described below. That is, the user checks the arrangement of the
reagent by the reagent arrangement displaying region 420 of the
reagent managing screen 410 shown in FIG. 7. The user specifies by
touching directly by hand the reagent non-arranged mark 427
corresponding to the holding part of the reagent container rack
that holds the reagent to be added from the reagent non-arranged
mark 427 (e.g., "A14-1", "B14-2", etc., of FIG. 7). In step S21,
when the user pushes the replacement/addition button 440a with the
reagent non-arranged mark 427 specified, the instruction to add the
reagent to be added is completed. Thereafter, the reagent is added
through operations similar to steps S31 to S37 shown in FIG. 19,
steps S41 to S48 shown in FIG. 20, and steps S51 to S57 shown in
FIG. 21.
[0177] FIG. 22 is a flowchart for describing the details of the
reagent remaining amount calculating process of the control section
4a executed in step S15 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 27. FIG. 23
is a view for describing the method of calculating the remaining
amount of the reagent. FIG. 24 is a view for describing the
correspondence relationship between the remaining amount of the
reagent and the color of the remaining amount indicator. The
process of calculating the remaining amount in the remaining amount
indicator of the reagent mark will now be described with reference
to FIGS. 10 and 22 to 24.
[0178] First, in step S61 shown in FIG. 22, the height of the fluid
level is calculated based on the received fluid level detection
information by the control section 4a. The fluid level detection
information contains number of pulses P and distance D of when the
fluid level described above is detected. The reagent container is
specified based on the container ID with reference to the container
master, and the inner area S in the horizontal direction of the
specified reagent container is acquired by the control section 4a.
Furthermore, the reagent name is acquired based on the reagent ID
with reference to the reagent master. The height H of the fluid
level is obtained by the following equation (1) by the control
section 4a. H(Height of fluid level)=H1(height of initial
position)-P(number of pulses).times.D(movement distance of one
pulse) (1)
[0179] In step S62, the remaining amount T of the reagent is
calculated by the following equation (2) by the control section 4a
from the acquired inner area S of the reagent container and the
acquired height H of the fluid level of the reagent. T(remaining
amount)=H(height of fluid level).times.S(inner area of reagent
container) (2)
[0180] In step S63, judgment is made on whether or not the
remaining amount T of the reagent is less than or equal to the
measurement canceling remaining amount T1. As shown in FIG. 24,
when the remaining amount T of the reagent is less than or equal to
the measurement canceling remaining amount T1, the first reagent
remaining amount indicating that there is not remaining amount of
the reagent is stored in the hard disc 401d in step S64. If the
remaining amount T of the reagent is greater than the measurement
canceling remaining amount T1, determination is made on whether or
not the remaining amount T of the reagent is less than or equal to
a warning remaining amount T2 in step S65.
[0181] As shown in FIG. 24, if the remaining amount T of the
reagent is less than or equal to the warning remaining amount T2,
the second reagent remaining amount indicating that the remaining
amount of the reagent is few is stored in the hard disc 401d in
step S66. If the remaining amount T of the reagent is greater than
the warning remaining amount T2, the third reagent remaining amount
indicating that the remaining amount of the reagent is sufficient
is stored in the hard disc 401d in step S67.
[0182] The steps S61 to S67 are repeated every time measurement is
performed. As described above, the remaining amount indicator is
displayed in red for the first reagent remaining amount, the
remaining amount indicator is displayed in yellow for the second
reagent remaining amount, and the remaining amount indicator is not
displayed for the third reagent remaining amount. Therefore, the
user can easily recognize the remaining amount of the reagent by
color displaying the reagent remaining amount in the remaining
amount indicator based on the calculated reagent remaining
amount.
[0183] FIG. 25 is a flowchart for describing the details of the
reagent detailed information displaying process of the control
section 4a executed in step S22 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 27.
The process flow of displaying the detailed information of the
reagent on the reagent detailed information displaying region will
now be described with reference to FIG. 25.
[0184] First, in step S71, the reagent setting information, reagent
lot setting information, and container setting information
respectively registered in the reagent master, the reagent lot
master, and the container master are read from the hard disc 401d
by the control section 4a.
[0185] In step S72, "holder number", "reagent name", "necessity of
stirring", "reagent lot number", "expiration date", and "type of
container" are specified based on the barcode read information
stored in the hard disc 401d by the control section 4a.
Specifically, the "holder number" is specified from the positional
information of the barcode of the reagent container rack. The
reagent ID and the reagent setting information are checked, and
"reagent name" and "necessity of stirring" are specified. The
reagent lot number and the reagent lot setting information are
checked, and "reagent lot number" and "expiration date" are
specified. The container ID and the container setting information
are checked, and "type of container" is specified. Regarding the
reagents used in the measurement, the remaining amount of the
reagent is calculated in the above manner, and thus "usable amount"
and "remaining number of tests" are specified from the calculated
remaining amount of the reagent. If the reagent is not used even
once in the measurement after being replaced, "usable amount" and
"remaining number of tests" are not calculated. Furthermore, "set
date" and "set time" are specified by the date and time at when
reading of the barcode was performed. The barcode read information
is acquired in replacement or addition of the reagent, and stored
in the hard disc 401d.
[0186] In step S73, the detailed information specified in the
above-described step S72 is displayed on the reagent detailed
information displaying region. If the reagent is not used even once
in the measurement after being replaced, "usable amount" and
"remaining number of tests" are not displayed.
[0187] FIG. 26 is a flowchart for describing the details of the
reagent information editing process of the control section 4a
executed in step S26 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 27. The process
flow of editing the detailed information displayed on the reagent
detailed information displaying region will now be described with
reference to FIGS. 11 and 26.
[0188] First, in step S81, judgment is made on whether or not the
reagent information edit button 440b is pushed. If the reagent
information edit button 440b is not pushed, the relevant judgment
is repeated. If the reagent edit button 440b is pushed, the reagent
information edit dialogue 450 is displayed on the display device 4b
in step S82, as shown in FIG. 11. The user edits the detailed
information in the reagent information edit dialogue 450.
[0189] In step S83, judgment is made on whether or not the cancel
button 453 is pushed by the control section 4a. If the cancel
button 453 is pushed, the reagent information edit dialogue 450 is
closed and the original detailed information is displayed on the
reagent detailed information displaying region 430 in step S84. If
the cancel button 453 is not pushed, judgment is made on whether or
not the update button 452 is pushed in step S85. If the update
button 452 is not pushed, the relevant judgment is repeated. If the
update button 452 is pushed, the reagent information edit dialogue
450 is closed and the edited detailed information is reflected on
the reagent information displaying region 430 in step S86.
[0190] In the present embodiment, only the detailed information of
the reagent corresponding to the specified reagent mark can be
displayed on the reagent detailed information displaying region 430
by specifying the reagent mark displayed on the reagent arrangement
displaying region 420, as described above. Thus the reagent
detailed information displaying region 430 does not need to be
arranged for the number of reagents, and thus percentage of the
reagent detailed information displaying region 430 occupying the
reagent managing screen 410 is set to a constant size. Therefore,
when arranging a great number of reagents, the detailed information
of the reagent arranged in the reagent storing section 6 can be
easily displayed.
[0191] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the user is able to
check the arrangement of the reagent accommodated in a plurality of
reagent container racks with the display device 4b by displaying
the rack mark and each reagent mark in correspondence to the
arrangement state of each reagent accommodated in the plurality of
reagent container racks, as described above. The user then can
easily manage the reagents.
[0192] Moreover, in the present embodiment, the user is able to
easily distinguish the current specified reagent from the reagents
other than the specified reagent by displaying the background with
respect to the reagent name of the reagent name displaying part of
the specified reagent mark in blue, and displaying the background
with respect to the reagent name of the reagent name displaying
part of the non-specified reagent mark in white in the reagent
arrangement displaying region 420, as described above.
[0193] In the present embodiment, the user recognizes by warning
display on the display device 4b that the remaining amount T of the
reagent is less than or equal to the measurement canceling
remaining amount T1 or the warning remaining amount T2 by
displaying a warning that the remaining amount T of the reagent is
less than or equal to the measurement canceling remaining amount T1
or the warning remaining amount T2 on the reagent mark
corresponding to the reagent when the remaining amount T becomes
less than or equal to the measurement canceling remaining amount T1
or the warning remaining amount T12, as described above.
[0194] In the present embodiment, the user can recognize the
difference in the remaining amount of the reagents by difference in
color by displaying the remaining indicator in a predetermined
color (e.g., red) when the remaining amount T of the reagent
becomes less than or equal to the measurement canceling remaining
amount T1, and displaying the remaining amount indicator in a
predetermined color (e.g., yellow) when the remaining amount of the
reagent becomes the warning remaining amount T2, as described
above.
[0195] Moreover, the user is able to accurately know at which
accommodating position of which reagent container rack the reagent
is arranged by displaying the positional information (holder
number) of the reagent read from the barcode on the reagent mark,
as described above.
[0196] In the present embodiment, the lot number and the expiration
date of the reagent corresponding to the specified reagent mark can
be recognized on the reagent detailed information displaying region
430 by specifying the reagent mark in the reagent arrangement
displaying region 420, as described above. The user thus can judge
the replacement timing, etc., of the reagent.
[0197] In the present embodiment, the remaining number of tests,
the set date, and the set time of the reagent corresponding to the
specified reagent mark can be checked on the reagent detailed
information displaying region by specifying the reagent mark in the
reagent arrangement displaying region 420, as described above. The
user then can judge the replacement timing, etc., of the
reagent.
[0198] In the present embodiment, the user can easily recognize the
arrangement of the reagent by configuring the first reagent table
11 and the second reagent table 12 such that each reagent can be
arranged in an annular form, and displaying the reagent mark in an
annular form in correspondence to the annular arrangement of the
reagent in the first reagent table 11 and the second reagent table
on the reagent arrangement displaying region 420, as described
above.
[0199] In the present embodiment, after specifying the reagent in
the reagent arrangement displaying region 420 of the reagent
managing screen 410, the reagent can be replaced with the
replacement/addition button 440a in the reagent managing screen
410, as described above. The user then can easily replace the
reagent.
[0200] In the present embodiment, the detailed information of the
reagent displayed on the reagent detailed information displaying
region 430 of the reagent managing screen 410 can be edited with
the reagent information edit button 440b displayed on the operation
means displaying region 440 of the same reagent managing screen
410, as described above. The convenience of the user thus
enhances.
[0201] In the present embodiment, the user can easily edit the
detailed information of the reagent with the reagent information
edit dialogue 450 displayed by pushing the reagent information edit
button 440b, as described above.
[0202] In the present embodiment, the rack mark including the
specified reagent mark is displayed in a predetermined color (e.g.,
green) in a retrievable state in which the user can retrieve the
reagent arranged in the first table 11 or the second reagent table
12 when replacing the reagent, as described above. The rack mark
including the specified reagent mark is displayed in a
predetermined color (e.g., yellow) in a waiting state from when the
replacement/addition button 440a is pushed until the retrievable
state is obtained. The user can judge the retrievable state and the
waiting state from the reagent managing screen 410 of the display
device 4b, and thus can easily replace the reagent.
[0203] In the present embodiment, the reagent can be added to the
portion not arranged with the reagent of the reagent arranging
section by specifying the reagent non-arranged mark and pushing the
replacement/addition button, as described above.
[0204] In the present embodiment, the mistaken arrangement mark B
is displayed for the corresponding reagent mark if the reagent that
requires stirring is arranged at a position where stirring cannot
be performed in the reagent managing screen 410, as described
above. The expired mark C is displayed for the reagent mark
corresponding to the expired reagent. The stable time-out mark D is
displayed for the reagent mark of the reagent that has elapsed a
predetermined time (e.g., eight hours) from the set date and set
time of the reagent. The user thus can check the reagent that has a
problem to be used for analysis from the reagent managing screen
410. The managing of the reagent such as replacing the reagent that
has a problem to be used for analysis with a new reagent is thus
easily carried out.
[0205] The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative and should
not be construed as being restrictive. The scope of the invention
is defined by the appended claims rather than by the description of
the embodiments, and all changes that fall within meets and bounds
of the claims, or equivalence of such meets and bounds are
therefore intended to be embraced by the claims.
[0206] For instance, an example of displaying the positional
information (holder number), reagent name, and remaining amount
indicator on the reagent mark has been described in the above
embodiments, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and
only the reagent name may be displayed.
[0207] An example of distinguishing the specified reagent mark from
the other reagent marks by changing the color of the specified
reagent mark has been described in the above embodiments, but the
present invention is not limited thereto, and the shape or size of
the specified reagent mark may be changed.
[0208] An example of displaying a warning of the remaining amount
of the reagent with the remaining amount indicator when the
remaining amount of the reagent becomes small has been described in
the above embodiments, but the present invention is not limited
thereto, and the remaining amount indicator may be displayed even
if the remaining amount of the reagent is suffice.
[0209] An example of displaying the color of the remaining amount
indicator in yellow when the remaining amount T of the reagent is
less than or equal to the warning remaining amount T2 and
displaying in red when less than or equal to the measurement
canceling remaining amount T1 has been described in the above
embodiments, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and
may be displayed in colors other than yellow and red. In addition
to changing the color of the remaining amount indicator by the
remaining amount of the reagent, the shape, pattern, and the like
of the remaining amount indicator may be changed.
[0210] An example of displaying the reagent name on the reagent
name displaying part of the reagent mark has been described in the
above embodiments, but the present invention is not limited
thereto, and the reagent name may be displayed in the vicinity of
the reagent mark.
[0211] An example of displaying as a mark an icon of a combination
of character and figure on the display device so as to be
specifiable has been described in the above embodiments, but the
present invention is not limited thereto, and a button may be
displayed on the display device as the mark. For instance, a button
configured only from a rectangle with a character inside may be
used.
[0212] An example of providing a touch panel function to the
display device, so that the user can directly touch button etc.
displayed on the reagent managing screen for selection or operation
has been described in the above embodiments, but the present
invention is not limited thereto, and selection or operation may be
carried out by specifying button etc. displayed on the reagent
managing screen with keyboard or mouse.
[0213] The foregoing detailed description and accompanying drawings
have been provided by way of explanation and illustration, and are
not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Many
variations in the presently preferred embodiments illustrated
herein will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, and
remain within the scope of the appended claims and their
equivalents.
* * * * *